Desktop refilling device, article and aerosol provision system

ABSTRACT

A desktop refilling device for an article of an aerosol provision system comprises an article interface configured to receive the article, a reservoir interface configured to receive a reservoir, and refilling control circuitry configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article, wherein the article interface and/or the reservoir interface are configured to respectively enclose the article and the reservoir inside a housing of the desktop refilling device during the transfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No.PCT/GB2021/052739, filed Oct. 22, 2021, which claims priority from GBApplication No. 2016760.7, filed Oct. 22, 2020 and GB Application No.2108804.2, Jun. 18, 2021 filed each of which hereby fully incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to desktop refilling devices, articlesfor aerosol provision systems and aerosol provision systems.

BACKGROUND

Electronic aerosol provision systems such as electronic cigarettes(e-cigarettes) generally contain an aerosol-generating material, such asa reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typicallyincluding nicotine, or a solid material such as a tobacco-based product,from which an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, for examplethrough heat vaporization. Thus, an aerosol provision system willtypically comprise an aerosol generator, e.g. a heating element,arranged to aerosolise a portion of aerosol-generating material togenerate an aerosol in an aerosol generation region of an air channelthrough the aerosol provision system. As a user inhales on the deviceand electrical power is supplied to the aerosol generator, air is drawninto the device through one or more inlet holes and along the airchannel to the aerosol generation region, where the air mixes with thevaporized aerosol generator and forms a condensation aerosol. The airdrawn through the aerosol generation region continues along the airchannel to a mouthpiece, carrying some of the aerosol with it, and outthrough the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

It is common for aerosol provision systems to comprise a modularassembly, often having two main functional parts, namely an aerosolprovision device and an article. Typically the article will comprise theconsumable aerosol-generating material and the aerosol generator(heating element), while the aerosol provision device part will compriselonger-life items, such as a rechargeable battery, device controlcircuitry and user interface features. The aerosol provision device mayalso be referred to as a reusable part or battery section and thearticle may also be referred to as a consumable, disposable/replaceablepart, cartridge or cartomizer.

The aerosol provision device and article are mechanically coupledtogether at an interface for use, for example using a screw thread,bayonet, latched or friction fit fixing. When the aerosol-generatingmaterial in an article has been exhausted, or the user wishes to switchto a different article having a different aerosol-generating material,the article may be removed from the aerosol provision device and areplacement article may be attached to the device in its place.Alternatively, some articles are configured such that, after theaerosol-generating material in the article has been exhausted, thearticle can be refilled with more aerosol-generating material, therebyallowing the article to be reused. In this example, the user is able torefill the article using a separate reservoir of aerosol-generatingmaterial. The aerosol-generating material used to refill the article maybe the same or different to the previous aerosol-generating material inthe article, thereby allowing the user to change to a differentaerosol-generating material without purchasing a new article.

Refilling the article with aerosol-generating material extends the lifeof the article as its use is no longer limited by the volume or amountof aerosol-generating material that the article can hold. As a result,the use of the article may be limited by other factors, such as the lifeof individual components within the article. Continuous use of thearticle may therefore result in degradation or fault developing incomponents within the article. The article may therefore become lessreliable, the operation of the article less predictable or the articlemay stop working entirely, each of which has a negative impact on theuser experience.

Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address ormitigate some of the issues discussed above.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is defined in the appended claims.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provideda desktop refilling device for an article of an aerosol provision systemcomprising an article interface configured to receive the article, areservoir interface configured to receive a reservoir, and refillingcontrol circuitry configured to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article, whereinthe article interface and/or the reservoir interface are configured torespectively enclose the article and the reservoir inside a housing ofthe desktop refilling device during the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial from the reservoir to the article.

The article interface can comprise a holder configured to slide betweenan open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the holder isat least partially located outside the housing in the open configurationand the holder is located substantially within the housing in the closedconfiguration. The holder can be configured to slide into and out of anarticle opening in the housing, and an outer surface of the holder isconfigured to close the article opening and lie flush with housing whenthe holder is in the closed configuration. The refilling controlcircuitry can be configured to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article when theholder is in the closed configuration.

The holder can be configured to receive the article when the holder isin the open configuration. The holder can be a tray configured toreceive the article from above such that the article rests on the traywhen the desktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface.The tray can comprise a trough with a size and shape substantiallyconforming to a perimeter size and shape of the article.

The holder can be configured to receive the article in a horizontalorientation when the desktop refilling device is located on a horizontalsurface.

The refilling control circuitry can be further configured to operate amotor connected to the holder to slide the holder between the openconfiguration and the closed configuration. The refilling controlcircuitry can be further configured to operate the motor to slide theholder into the closed configuration in response to the article beingreceived by the holder. The refilling control circuitry can be furtherconfigured to operate the motor to slide the holder to the openconfiguration in response to the transfer of aerosol-generating materialfrom the reservoir to the article.

The reservoir interface can be located above the article interface whenthe desktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface.

The refilling control circuitry can be configured to operate anindicator light on the refilling device based on the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article. Theindicator light is located on the article interface, or the articleinterface can comprise a holder configured to slide into and out of anarticle opening in the housing and the indicator light surrounds thearticle opening on the housing.

The reservoir interface can comprise a holder with a retaining mechanismconfigured to receive and retain the reservoir. The retaining mechanismcan comprise a spring clip.

The reservoir interface can be located within a reservoir opening in thehousing. The housing can comprise an access panel configured to movebetween an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein thereservoir interface is configured to receive the reservoir when theaccess panel is in the open configuration, and the reservoir opening isclosed by the access panel when the access panel is in the closedconfiguration. The access panel can be a sliding panel. The access panelcan extend around substantially part of or substantially all of aperimeter of the housing. The article interface can comprise a holderconfigured to slide between an open configuration and a closedconfiguration, wherein the holder slides in a direction perpendicular toa direction the access panel moves between the open configuration andthe closed configuration.

The desktop refilling device can comprise a mains power supply. Thedesktop refilling device can comprise a flat surface to facilitatestorage of the desktop refilling device on another flat surface.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provideda desktop refilling device for an article of an aerosol provision systemcomprising an article interface configured to receive the article, andrefilling control circuitry configured to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from a reservoir couplable to the refillingdevice to the article, wherein the article interface comprises a holderconfigured to support the article during the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article.

The aerosol provision system can comprise the article and an aerosolprovision device, and the holder can be configured to receive thearticle when the article is separated from the aerosol provision deviceof the aerosol provision system.

The holder can be configured to slide between an open configuration anda closed configuration, wherein the holder is at least partially locatedoutside a housing of the refilling device in the open configuration andthe holder is located substantially within the housing in the closedconfiguration. The holder can be configured to slide into and out of anarticle opening in the housing, and an outer surface of the holder isconfigured to close the article opening and lie substantially flush withhousing when the holder is in the closed configuration. The refillingcontrol circuitry can be configured to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article when theholder is in the closed configuration. The holder can be configured toreceive the article when the holder is in the open configuration. Theholder can be a tray configured to receive, in the open position, thearticle from above such that the article rests on the tray when thedesktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface. The traycan comprise a trough with a size and shape substantially conforming toa perimeter size and shape of the article.

The refilling control circuitry can be configured to operate a motorconnected to the holder to slide the holder between the openconfiguration and the closed configuration. The refilling controlcircuitry can be configured to operate the motor to slide the holderinto the closed configuration in response to the article being receivedby the holder. The refilling control circuitry can be configured tooperate the motor to slide the holder to the open configuration inresponse to the transfer of aerosol-generating material from thereservoir to the article.

The holder can be configured to receive the article in a horizontalorientation when the desktop refilling device is located on a horizontalsurface.

The reservoir interface can be located above the article interface whenthe desktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface.

The refilling control circuitry can be configured to operate anindicator light on the refilling device based on the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article. Theindicator light can be located on the article interface, or the holderis configured to slide into and out of an article opening in a housingof the refilling device and the indicator light surrounds the articleopening on the housing.

The desktop refilling device can comprise a mains power supply. Thedesktop refilling device can comprise a flat surface to facilitatestorage of the desktop refilling device on another flat surface.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is providedan article for an aerosol provision system comprising a first end and asecond end, the second end opposite the first end, an interface at thefirst end of the article for coupling article to an aerosol provisiondevice of the aerosol provision system, and a refilling orifice fortransferring aerosol-generating material into article, wherein therefilling orifice is located on a sidewall of the article between thefirst end and the second end.

The refilling orifice can be located on the sidewall at a distancefurthest from a central axis extending between the first end and asecond end. The refilling orifice can comprise a septum valve.

The article can also comprise a mouthpiece at the second end of thearticle and/or one or more connectors at the first end of the articlefor transferring data between the article and a device coupled to theinterface.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is providedan aerosol provision system comprising the article described herein.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provideda desktop refilling device for an article of an aerosol provision systemcomprising a reservoir interface configured to receive a reservoir, andrefilling control circuitry configured to facilitate a transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article couplableto the refilling device, wherein a housing of the desktop refillingdevice comprises an access panel configured to move between an openconfiguration and a closed configuration, wherein the reservoirinterface is configured to receive the reservoir when the access panelis in the open configuration, and the reservoir opening is enclosed bythe access panel when the access panel is in the closed configuration.

The reservoir interface can be located within a reservoir opening in ahousing of the desktop refilling device. The reservoir opening can beclosed by the access panel when the access panel is in the closedconfiguration.

The reservoir interface can comprise a holder with a retaining mechanismconfigured to receive and retain the reservoir. The retaining mechanismcan be a spring clip.

The access panel can be a sliding panel. The access panel can extendaround substantially part of or substantially all of a perimeter of thehousing.

The desktop refilling device can be configured to receive the article ina direction perpendicular to a direction the access panel moves betweenthe open configuration and the closed configuration.

The access panel can be configured to move in a vertical direction whenthe desktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface.

The desktop refilling device can comprise a mains power supply. Thedesktop refilling device can comprise a flat surface to facilitatestorage of the desktop refilling device on another flat surface.

These aspects and other aspects will be apparent from the followingdetailed description. In this regard, particular sections of thedescription are not to be read in isolation from other sections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol provision system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example article for use in theaerosol provision system illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example refilling device and areservoir for refilling the article illustrated in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example article for use in theaerosol provision system illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams of an example refilling devicefor an article of an aerosol provision system;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate indicator light arrangements for therefilling device illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIGS. 7A and 8B are schematic diagrams of example reservoirs for usewith a refilling device;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are further schematic diagrams of the refilling deviceillustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams of a refilling device 40 for anarticle of an aerosol provision system;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments arediscussed/described herein. Some aspects and features of certainexamples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these arenot discussed/described in detail in the interests of brevity. It willthus be appreciated that aspects and features of articles and systemsdiscussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented inaccordance with any conventional techniques for implementing suchaspects and features.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems, which mayalso be referred to as aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes.Throughout the following description the term “e-cigarette” or“electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciatedthis term may be used interchangeably with aerosol provision system andelectronic aerosol provision system.

As noted above, aerosol provision systems (e-cigarettes) often comprisea modular assembly including both a reusable part (aerosol provisiondevice) and a replaceable (disposable) or refillable cartridge part,referred to as an article. Systems conforming to this type of two-partmodular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systemsor devices. It is also common for electronic cigarettes to have agenerally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example,certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein comprise thiskind of generally elongate two-part system employing refillablecartridges. However, it will be appreciated the underlying principlesdescribed herein may equally be adopted for other electronic cigaretteconfigurations, for example modular systems comprising more than twoparts, as devices conforming to other overall shapes, for example basedon so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a moreboxy shape.

As described above, the present disclosure relates to (but it notlimited to) refilling devices for articles of aerosol provision systems,such as e-cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.

FIG. 1 is a highly schematic diagram (not to scale) of an exampleaerosol provision system 10, such as an e-cigarette, to whichembodiments are applicable. The aerosol provision system 10 has agenerally cylindrical shape, extending along a longitudinal or y axis asindicated by the axes (although aspects of the disclosure are applicableto e-cigarettes configured in other shapes and arrangements), andcomprises two main components, namely an aerosol provision device 20 andan article 30.

The aerosol provision device 20 and article 30 each comprise aninterface 22, 24 such that the aerosol provision device 20 and article30 are mechanically coupled for use. As described above, the interfacesmay comprise a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction fit fixing,wherein the interface 24 on the aerosol provision device 20 and theinterface 24 on the article 30 each comprise a complementary fitting orfixture to enable the aerosol provision device 20 and article

The article 30 comprises or consists of aerosol-generating material 32,part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. Anarticle 30 may comprise one or more other components, such as anaerosol-generating material storage area 39, an aerosol-generatingmaterial transfer component 37, an aerosol generation area, a housing, awrapper, a mouthpiece a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

An article 30 may also comprise an aerosol generator 36, such as aheating element, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generatingmaterial 32 to generate aerosol in use. The aerosol generator 36 may,for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable byelectrical conduction, or a susceptor. It should be noted that it ispossible for the aerosol generator 36 to be part of the aerosolprovision device 20 and the article 30 then may comprise theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 for the aerosol-generatingmaterial 32 such that, when the article 30 is coupled with the aerosolprovision device 20 via the interfaces 22, 24, the aerosol-generatingmaterial 32 can be transferred to the aerosol generator 36 in theaerosol provision device 20.

Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generatingaerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any otherway. The aerosol-generating material 32 may, for example, be in the formof a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an activesubstance and/or flavorants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generatingmaterial 32 may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternativelybe referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In someembodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solidis a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, withinit. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 32 may forexample comprise from about 50 wt %, 60 wt % or 70 wt % of amorphoussolid, to about 90 wt %, 95 wt % or 100 wt % of amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating material comprises one or more ingredients, suchas one or more active substances and/or flavorants, one or moreaerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functionalmaterials such as pH regulators, coloring agents, preservatives,binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically activematerial, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance aphysiological response. The active substance may for example be selectedfrom nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactives. The active substancemay be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The activesubstance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine,vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, orconstituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substancemay comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts oftobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In someembodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin orvitamin B12.

The aerosol provision device 20 includes a power source 14, such as abattery, configured to supply electrical power to the aerosol generator36. The power source 14 in this example is rechargeable and may be of aconventional type, for example of the kind normally used in electroniccigarettes and other applications requiring provision of relatively highcurrents over relatively short periods. The battery 14 may be rechargedthrough the charging port (not illustrated), which may, for example,comprise a USB connector.

The aerosol provision device 20 includes device control circuitry 28configured to control the operation of the aerosol provision system 10and provide conventional operating functions in line with theestablished techniques for controlling aerosol provision systems such aselectronic cigarettes. The device control circuitry (processorcircuitry) 28 may be considered to logically comprise varioussub-units/circuitry elements associated with different aspects of theelectronic cigarette's operation. For example, depending on thefunctionality provided in different implementations, the device controlcircuitry 28 may comprise power source control circuitry for controllingthe supply of electrical power from the power source 14 to the aerosolgenerator 36, user programming circuitry for establishing configurationsettings (e.g. user-defined power settings) in response to user input,as well as other functional units/circuitry associated functionality inaccordance with the principles described herein and conventionaloperating aspects of electronic cigarettes. It will be appreciated thefunctionality of the device control circuitry 28 can be provided invarious different ways, for example using one or more suitablyprogrammed programmable computer(s) and/or one or more suitablyconfigured application-specific integratedcircuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to provide thedesired functionality.

The aerosol provision device 20 includes one or more air inlets 21. Inuse, as a user inhales on the mouthpiece 35, air is drawn into theaerosol provision device 20 through the air inlets 21 and along an airchannel 23 to the aerosol generator 36, where the air mixes with thevaporized aerosol-generating material 32 and forms a condensationaerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol generator 36 continues alongthe air channel 23 to a mouthpiece 35, carrying some of the aerosol withit, and out through the mouthpiece 35 for inhalation by the user.Alternatively, the one or more air inlets 21 may be included on thearticle 30, such that the air channel 23 is entirely contained withinthe article 30.

By way of a concrete example, the article 30 comprises a housing(formed, e.g., from a plastics material), an aerosol-generating materialstorage area 39 formed within the housing for containing theaerosol-generating material 32 (which in this example may be a liquidwhich may or may not contain nicotine), an aerosol-generating materialtransfer component 37 (which in this example is a wick formed of e.g.,glass or cotton fibers, or a ceramic material configured to transportthe liquid from the reservoir using capillary action), anaerosol-generating area containing the aerosol generator 36, and amouthpiece 35. Although not shown, a filter and/or aerosol modifyingagent (such as a flavor imparting material) may be located in, or inproximity to, the mouthpiece 35. The aerosol generator 36 of thisexample comprises a heater element formed from an electrically resistivematerial (such as NiCr8020) spirally wrapped around theaerosol-generating material transfer component 37, and located in theair channel 23. The area around the heating element and wick combinationis the aerosol-generating area of the article 30.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example article 30 for use in theaerosol provision system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 , where the samereference signs have been used for like elements between the article 30illustrated in FIG. 1 and the article 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 . As perthe article 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 , the article 30 illustrated inFIG. 2 includes an aerosol-generating material storage area 39 forstoring an aerosol-generating material 32, an aerosol-generatingmaterial transfer component 37, an aerosol generation area containing anaerosol generator 36, and a mouthpiece 35.

The article 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 is configured to be refilled andreused. In other words, the aerosol-generating material storage area 39of the article 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 can be refilled withaerosol-generating material 32 once some or all of theaerosol-generating material 32 contained in the aerosol-generatingmaterial storage area 39 has been exhausted or depleted. To facilitatethe refilling or replenishment of aerosol-generating material 32, thearticle 30 has a refilling tube 33 extending between theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 and the exterior or an outersurface of the housing of the article 30, thereby creating a refillingorifice 34. Aerosol-generating material 32 can then be inserted into theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 via the refilling orifice 34and refilling tube 33. It will be appreciated, however, that such aconfiguration of a refilling tube 33 and a refilling orifice 34 is notessential, and the article 30 may comprise any other suitable means offacilitating the refilling of the aerosol-generating material storagearea 39 with aerosol generating material 32.

The refilling orifice 34 and/or the refilling tube 33 may be sealable,for example with a cap, one-way valve or septum valve, in order toensure that aerosol-generating material 32 does not leak out of therefilling orifice 34. In other words, the refilling orifice 34 cancomprise a cap, one-way valve or septum valve. Although the refillingorifice 34 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as being on the same end or surface310 of the article 30 as the air channel 23 and interface 22 with theaerosol provision device 20, this is not essential. The refillingorifice 34 may be located at the end 320 of the article 30 comprisingthe mouthpiece 35, for example proximate to the outlet of the airchannel 23 on the mouthpiece 35, such that the refilling tube 33 extendsbetween the end 320 of the article 30 comprising the mouthpiece 35 andthe aerosol-generating material storage area 39. In this case, thearticle 30 does not necessarily need to be separated from theaerosol-generating device 20 in order to refill the article 30 withaerosol-generating material 32, as the refilling orifice 34 is notobstructed by the aerosol-generating device 20 when the article 30 iscoupled with the aerosol provision device 20 via the interfaces 22, 24.

The article 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 also comprises article controlcircuitry 38 configured to control the operation of the article 30 andstore parameters and/or data associated with the article 30. Theparameters associated with the article 30 may include, for example, aserial number and/or stock keeping unit (SKU) for the article 30 orother means of identifying the article and/or the type of the article30, a date of manufacture and/or expiry of the article 30, an indicationof the number of times the article 30 has been refilled, the capacity ofthe aerosol-generating material storage area 39 and/or the amount ofaerosol-generating material remaining in the aerosol-generating materialstorage area 39. The parameters associated with the article may includedata relating to the aerosol-generating material stored in theaerosol-generating material storage area 39, such as one or moreingredients, the concentration and/or amount of the ingredients and/orone or more flavorants within the aerosol-generating material. Asdescribed above in relation to the device control circuitry 28, thearticle control circuitry 38 can be provided in various different ways,for example using one or more suitably programmed programmablecomputer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specificintegrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to providethe desired functionality. For example, the article control circuitry 38may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a system on chip (SoC).

The article 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 also comprises one or moreconnectors 31, such as contact electrodes, connected via electricalwiring to the aerosol generator 36 and the article control circuitry 38.In use, the article 30 is coupled to the aerosol-generating device 20and the connectors 31 mate with connectors on the aerosol-generatingdevice, thereby allowing electrical power and electrical current to besupplied from the battery 14 of the aerosol-generating device to theaerosol generator 36 and the article control circuitry 38. Asillustrated in FIG. 2 , the one or more connectors 31 can be located atthe same end 310 of the article 30 as the interface 22. Alternative, theone or more connectors 31 may form part of the interface 22 or belocated on a different surface of the article 30 to the interface 22,for example a side wall of the article 30 proximate to the end 310 withthe interface. It will be appreciated that the one or more connectors 31can be located on any surface of the article 30 so as to provide acomplementary fixture or fitting with equivalent connectors 22 on theaerosol provision device 20 and/or refilling device 40 as described inmore detail below.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a refilling device 40 for an article ofan aerosol provision system, such as the article 30 illustrated in FIG.2 , and a reservoir 50. The reservoir 50 is a disposable/replaceablepart which contains aerosol-generating material 52. The refilling devicefacilitates the transfer of the aerosol-generating material 52 from areservoir 50 couplable to the refilling device to an article 30couplable to the refilling device in order to refill or replenish theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30 withaerosol-generating material. In other words, the refilling device 40described herein is a refilling apparatus for an article 30 of anaerosol provision system 10. The article 30 can then be reused as partof the aerosol provision system 10 described above, whilst the reservoir50 can be disposed of when the aerosol-generating material 52 within thereservoir 50 has been depleted. This allows a single article 30 to berefilled using one or more reservoirs, thereby increasing the number ofuses of a single article 30.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 can be considered adesktop refilling device A desktop refilling device is a refillingdevice designed for regular use at a single location on or near a desk,table or other solid surface due to its size and power requirements. Forexample, desktop refilling device 40 can comprise an external powersupply, such as a mains power or supply to which the refilling device 40can be coupled, attached or otherwise connected. The refilling device 40may also comprise an internal power source, such as a battery,configured to supply electrical power to the components of the refillingdevice 40 in the event that the external power supply is not availableor unexpectedly cuts out in the middle of operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , a desktop refilling device 40 can alsocomprise a flat surface 410 to facilitate storage of the desktoprefilling device on another flat surface, such as a desk, table or othersolid surface. This allows the desktop refilling device 40 to reststably and level on another surface. The flat surface 410 may comprise anon-slip mat or coating in order to prevent the desktop refilling devicefrom being knocked or pushed. The non-slip mat may be made of rubber orany other suitable material with a high coefficient of friction. Moregenerally, the desktop refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 has theflat surface 410 at a first end of the refilling device 40 and a secondsurface 420 at a second end of the refilling device 40. The second endis opposite the first end, such that a major axis or length of therefilling device 40 extends between the first end and the second end.When the first end and flat surface 410 are placed or otherwise locatedon a horizontal surface (e.g. aligned with x-axis in FIG. 3 ), the majoraxis or length of the refilling device 40 extends in a verticaldirection (aligned with the y-axis in FIG. 3 ) between the first end andthe second end. The flat surface 410 can therefore be considered as thebase, bottom or foot of the refilling device 40 whilst the secondsurface 420 can be considered the top or upper surface of the refillingdevice 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the refilling device 40 comprises an articleinterface 42 configured to receive the article 30. The article interface42 may comprise a slot, tray, opening or aperture on the refillingdevice 40 into or onto which the article 30 is placed or coupled.Alternatively the article interface 42 may comprise a lead or othercable which is attachable or otherwise connectable to the article 30.Although one article interface 42 is illustrated in FIG. 3 , therefilling device 40 may comprise more than one article interface 42, forexample three, five or ten, depending on the specific design of therefilling device 40. In this case, two or more of the article interfaces42 may be different such that the refilling device 40 is capable ofreceiving different types of article, or two or more of the articleinterfaces 42 may be the same such that the refilling device 40 iscapable of receiving multiple articles of the same type.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the article interface 42 is configured toreceive the article 30 when the article 30 is separated from the aerosolprovision device 20. As set out above with reference to FIG. 1 , whenused as an aerosol provision system 10, the aerosol provision device andarticle 30 are mechanically coupled together via interfaces 22, 24. Thearticle interface 42 is configured such that, before the article 30 isreceived by the article interface 42, the article is detached,disconnected or otherwise separated from the aerosol provision device 20such that only the article 30 is received by the article interface 42(in other words, the aerosol provision system 20 is not received by thearticle interface 42). This means that the aerosol provision device 20is not required in order for the article 30 to be refilled with aerosolgenerating material 32.

The refilling device 40 also comprises one or more reservoir interfaces46 configured to receive a reservoir 50. In the same fashion asdescribed above in relation to the article interface 42, each of thereservoir interfaces 46 may comprise a slot, tray, opening or apertureon the refilling device 40 into or onto which the reservoir 50 is placedor coupled. Alternatively, each reservoir interface 46 may comprise alead or other cable which is attachable or otherwise connectable to thereservoir 50. Although two reservoir interfaces 46 are illustrated inFIG. 3 , this is not essential and the refilling device 40 may comprisefewer or more reservoir interfaces 46, for example one, three, five orten, depending on the specific design of the refilling device 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 canbe located above the article interface 42. In other words the one ormore reservoir interfaces 46 are located at a higher position than thearticle interface 42 such that, in use, the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30is gravity assisted, thereby reducing the energy required to transferaerosol-generating material 52. The x-axis shown in FIG. 3 aligns with ahorizontal direction and the y-axis shown in FIG. 3 aligns with avertical direction. A first end of the refilling device 40 comprises theflat surface 410 to allow the refilling device is located on ahorizontal surface. As illustrated in FIG. 3 , the one or more reservoirinterfaces 46 are located further (in other words, a greater distancealong the major axis or length of the refilling device 40) from the flatsurface 410 than the above the article interface 42. This ensures that,when the flat surface 410 is placed on another flat surface (such as ahorizontal surface), such as in the case of a desktop refilling deviceas described above, the flat surface 410 aligns with the x-axis (orhorizontal direction), and the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 arelocated at a higher position than the article interface 42.

The refilling device 40 also comprises refilling control circuitry 48configured to control the operation of the refilling device 40. Inparticular, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured tofacilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from areservoir 50 to the article 30. As described above in relation to thedevice control circuitry 28, the refilling control circuitry 48 can beprovided in various different ways, for example using one or moresuitably programmed programmable computer(s) and/or one or more suitablyconfigured application-specific integratedcircuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to provide thedesired functionality. For example, the refilling control circuitry 48may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a system on chip (SoC).

The refilling device 40 also comprises a housing 400 which contains andencloses the components of the refilling device 40. As illustrated inFIG. 3 , the article interface 42 and the one or more reservoirinterfaces 46 are located inside the housing 400 of the refillingdevice. The article interface 42 is therefore configured to enclose thearticle 30 and the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 configured toenclose the reservoir 50 inside the housing 400 of the refilling device40 during the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 to the article 30. The article interface 42 and/or thereservoir interfaces 46 may comprise a door, cover or flap which can beshut when the article 30 and reservoir 50 are respectively received bythe article interface 42 and the one or more reservoir interfaces 46such that the article 30 and the reservoir 50 are fully contained withinor otherwise enclosed by the housing 400 of the refilling device 40.

As described above, the reservoir 50 comprises aerosol-generatingmaterial 52 for transferring, by the refilling device 40, to the article30 in order to refill or replenish the aerosol-generating material 32 inthe aerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30.

The reservoir 50 illustrated in FIG. 3 also comprises reservoir controlcircuitry 58 configured to control the reservoir 50 and store parametersand/or data associated with the reservoir 50. The parameters associatedwith the reservoir 50 may include, for example data indicative of anamount of aerosol-generating material 52 stored in the reservoir 50,data relating to the aerosol-generating material 52 stored in thereservoir 50, such as one or more ingredients, the concentration and/oramount of the ingredients and/or one or more flavorants within theaerosol-generating material 52. The data may also comprise anidentifier, such as a serial number and/or SKU for the reservoir 50 orother means of identifying the reservoir 50 and/or the type of thereservoir 50, and a date of manufacture and/or expiry of the reservoir50. As described above in relation to the device control circuitry 28,the reservoir control circuitry 58 can be provided in various differentways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmablecomputer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specificintegrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to providethe desired functionality. For example, the reservoir control circuitry58 may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a system on chip (SoC).Alternatively, the reservoir control circuitry 58 may comprise a codeprinted onto the reservoir, such as a barcode or QR code, or an NFC chipor other form of passive tag.

The reservoir 50 can have a volume of 10 ml or more, for example 20ml,50 ml or 100 ml. In other words, the reservoir is configured to contain10 ml or more of aerosol-generating material 52 when the reservoir 50 isfilled with aerosol generating material 52. At least one of the one ormore reservoir interfaces 46 is then configured to receive a reservoirwith a volume of 10 ml or more.

The reservoir 50 can also have a larger volume than the article 30. Forexample, the volume of the reservoir can be at least 5 times greaterthan the volume of the article, for example times, 20 times or 50 timesgreater. In other words, the reservoir is configured to contain, whenfilled with aerosol-generating material 52, a volume ofaerosol-generating material 52 at least 5 times greater than theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30. Thisallows the same reservoir 50 to be used to refill the article at least 5times. At least one of the one or more reservoir interfaces 46 is thenconfigured to receive a reservoir with a volume at least times greaterthan a volume of the article the article interface 42 is configured toreceive.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 also comprises one or moreconnectors 41, such as contact electrodes, connected via electricalwiring to the refilling control circuitry 48 and the power source (notillustrated). The connectors 41 are located proximate to or as part ofthe article interface 42. This facilitates communication between therefilling control circuitry 48 and the article control circuitry 38; theconnectors 31 on the article 30 mate with the connectors 41 on therefilling device 40 when the article 30 is received by the articleinterface 42, thereby allowing power to be supplied from the refillingdevice 40 to the article control circuitry 38 and electrical signals tobe transferred between the refilling control circuitry 48 and thearticle control circuitry 38. The connectors 41 may be arranged relativeto the article interface 42 in a pattern and position matching/mirroringthe connectors 31 on the article 30 in order to facilitate the mating ofthe connectors 31 on the article 30 and the connectors 41 on therefilling device 40 when the article is received by the articleinterface 42.

In the same fashion, the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 alsocomprises one or more connectors 47, such as contact electrodes, locatedproximate to or as part of each of the reservoir interfaces 46 andconnected via electrical wiring to the refilling control circuitry 48and the power source (not illustrated). The connectors 47 mate with theconnectors 51 on the reservoir 50 when the reservoir 50 is received bythe reservoir interface 46, thereby allowing power to be supplied fromthe refilling device 40 to the reservoir control circuitry 58 andelectrical signals to be transferred between the refilling controlcircuitry 48 and the reservoir control circuitry 58. The connectors 47may be arranged relative to the reservoir interface 46 in a pattern andposition matching/mirroring the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 inorder to facilitate the mating of the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50and the connectors 47 on the refilling device 40 when a reservoir 50 isreceived by one of the reservoir interfaces 46.

Although the connectors 31, 41, 47, 51 are described herein as physicalelectrical connectors between the article, the refilling device and thereservoir, in an alternative implementation one or more of theelectrical connections between the respective components may be awireless connection, such as NFC, RFID, or inductive coupling.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 also comprises a refillingoutlet 44 located proximate to or as part of the article interface 42, arefilling inlet 45 located proximate to or as part of each of thereservoir interfaces 46, and a duct 43 connecting each refilling inlet45 to the refilling outlet 44. The refilling outlet 44 is configured tomate with the refilling orifice 34 on the article 30 when the article isreceived by the article interface 42, and each refilling inlet 45 isconfigured to mate with a reservoir outlet 55 when a reservoir 50 isreceived by the corresponding reservoir interface 46. The duct 43 isconfigured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52from each of the refilling inlets 45 to the refilling outlet 44, therebyproviding a transfer path for aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 through the refilling device 40 and into the article 30.

Although the refilling outlet 44 is illustrated in FIG. 3 as being onthe same end or surface of the article interface 42 as the connectors41, this is not essential. The refilling outlet 44 may be locatedanywhere proximate to or in the article interface 42 relative to theconnectors 41 in order for the refilling outlet 44 to mate with therefilling orifice 34 on the article 30 whilst the connectors 41 on therefilling device 40 mate with the connectors 31 on the article 30 whenthe article 30 is received by the article interface 30. Similarly, therefilling inlet 45 may be located anywhere proximate to or in eachreservoir interface 46 relative to the connectors 47 in order for therefilling inlet 45 to mate with the reservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir50 whilst the connectors 47 on the refilling device 40 mate with theconnectors 51 on the reservoir 50 when a reservoir 50 is received by areservoir interface 46.

Further, as described above, the refilling device 40 may be configuredto receive different types, designs or configuration of article 30 usingthe same article interface 42. In this case, there may be multipleconfigurations of connectors 41 and/or refilling outlets 44 proximate toor in the article interface 42 in order to facilitate the same articleinterface 42 receiving different types, designs or configurations ofarticle 30. Equally, there may be multiple configurations of connectors47 and/or refilling inlets 45 proximate to or in each reservoirinterface 46 in order to facilitate the same reservoir interface 46receiving different types, designs or configurations of reservoir 50.Alternatively or in addition, the configuration of connectors 47 and/orrefilling inlets proximate to or in the one or more of the reservoirinterfaces 46 may be different such that different reservoir types arereceived by different reservoir interfaces 46 of the same refillingdevice 40.

One or more of the refilling outlet 44, the refilling inlets 45, thereservoir outlet 55 and the duct 43 may also include a means ofcontrolling the rate and/or direction of transfer of theaerosol-generating material 52, for example a ball valve, needle valveor diaphragm to control the rate of transfer and/or a one way valve suchas a check valve or non-return valve to control the direction oftransfer. For example, a one way valve may be located at or proximate toeach of the refilling outlet 44, the refilling inlets 45 and thereservoir outlets 55 to ensure that aerosol-generating material 52 canonly be transferred from the reservoir 50 to the refilling device 40 andfrom the refilling device 40 to the article 30, whilst a single ballvalve or diaphragm may be located on or in the duct 43 of the refillingdevice 40 in order to control the flow rate of aerosol-generatingmaterial 52 from the reservoir 50 through the refilling device 40 andinto the article 30. Equally, a ball valve or diaphragm may be locatedproximate to each refilling inlet 45 in order to independently controlthe rate of transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 into each of therefilling inlets 45 or from each of the refilling inlets 45 into theduct 43. For example, this allows the refilling control circuitry 48 toprevent a first aerosol-generating material 52 being transferred from afirst reservoir 50 whilst a second aerosol-generating material 52 isbeing transferred from a second reservoir 50 to the article 30. Thisalso allows the refilling control circuitry 48 to facilitate thetransfer the first aerosol-generating material 52 from the firstreservoir 50 and the second aerosol-generating material 52 from thesecond reservoir 50 simultaneously to the article 30, but at differenttransfer rates, thereby creating an aerosol-generating material 32 inthe article 30 containing a mixture of the first aerosol-generatingmaterial 52 and the second aerosol-generating material 52 at differentconcentrations.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 also comprises a deviceinterface 49 configured to receive the aerosol provision device 20. Asdescribed above, the article interface 42 is configured to receive thearticle 30 when the article 30 is separated from the aerosol provisiondevice 20, such that the aerosol provision device 20 is not received bythe article interface 42. The aerosol provision device 20 can then bereceived by a separate device interface 49 as illustrated in FIG. 3 .This allows the device interface 49 and the article interface 42 to belocated separately on the refilling device 40, for example on differentsides of the refilling device 40, such that the aerosol provision device20 can be coupled to the refilling device 40 independently of thearticle 30. As described above, this also means that the aerosolprovision device 20 is not required in order for the article 30 to berefilled with aerosol generating material 32.

The device interface 49 can be configured to receive the aerosolprovision device 20 in order to supply electrical power from therefilling device 40 to the aerosol provision device 20. This electricalpower can be used, for example, to recharge the power source or battery14 of the aerosol provision device 20 and to facilitate the transfer ofelectrical signals between the refilling control circuitry 48 and thedevice control circuitry 28. This allows the user to use the refillingdevice 40 as a means of charging the aerosol provision device 20 whilstthe article 30 is being replenished with aerosol-generating material 32,thereby reducing the number of associated devices needed to operate andmaintain the aerosol provision system 10. The device interface 49 may bea wired interface, such as using electrical connectors as describedabove, or a wireless interface such as inductive or capacitive coupling.The device interface 49 may also be configured to the transfer of databetween the refilling control circuitry 48 and the device controlcircuitry 28. The refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured toread data from the aerosol provision device and/or write data to theaerosol provision device 20, for example to perform a software update,thereby installing an updated version of software onto the devicecontrol circuitry 28.

As set out above, the refilling device 40 facilitates the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 couplable to therefilling device 40 to an article 30 couplable to the refilling device40 in order to refill or replenish the article 30 so that it can bereused as part of the aerosol provision system 10. In particular, therefilling control circuitry 48 is configured to facilitate the transferof aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article30 in response to detecting that the article 30 has been received by therefilling device 40.

By way of a concrete example, when a reservoir 50 is received by one ofthe reservoir interfaces 47, the connectors 47 located proximate to orin the corresponding reservoir interface 46 mate with the connectors 51on the reservoir 50 and the refilling inlet 45 located proximate to orin the corresponding reservoir interface 46 mates with the reservoiroutlet 55. When an article 30 is received by the article interface 42,the connectors 41 located proximate to or in the article interface 42mate with the connectors 31 on the article 30 and the refilling outlet45 mates with the refilling orifice 34 on the device 30. The refillingcontrol circuitry 48 is then configured to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30by facilitating the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 into the duct 42 of the refilling device 40 via thereservoir outlet 51 and the refilling inlet 45, and from the duct 42 ofthe refilling device 40 into the aerosol-generating material storagearea 39 of the article 30 via the refilling outlet 44, the refillingorifice 34 and the refilling tube 33.

In the examples where the refiling device 40 has a plurality ofreservoir interfaces 46, the refilling control circuitry 48 isconfigured to selectively facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial 52 from a reservoir 50 received by one of the reservoirinterfaces 46, for example in response to a determination that only oneof the reservoir interfaces 46 has received a reservoir 50, or inresponse to a selection of a particular reservoir 50 from whichaerosol-generating material 52 should be transferred, for example a userinput or a determination based on one or more parameters of each of thereservoirs 50 stored on the respective reservoir control circuitry 58.In this case, the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured toreceive, from a user of the refilling device 40, a selection of one ormore reservoir interfaces 46 and selectively facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52, from each reservoir 50 connected to oneof the one or more selected reservoir interfaces 46, to the article 30when the article 30 is coupled to the refilling device. In other words,the refilling control circuitry 48 is configured to only transferaerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 connected to aselected reservoir interface 46, and prevent aerosol-generating material52 from being transferred from any other reservoir 50 connected to therefilling device 40.

Although not illustrated, in some examples, the refilling device 40 cancomprise a tank, container or other such receptacle for storingaerosol-generating material 52 received from the reservoir 50, forexample when a reservoir 50 is received by the reservoir interface 46without an article 30 being received by the article interface 42,thereby allowing the reservoir 50 to be disconnected from the reservoirinterface 46 before an article 30 is received by the article interface42. In this case, the aerosol-generating material 52 is stored in thereceptacle of the refilling device 40 until such a time that it can betransferred to an article 30 received by the article interface 42. Inthis case, control circuitry 48 of the refilling device 40 is configuredto facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 to the receptacle, and subsequently and separately tofacilitate the transfer of the aerosol-generating material 52 from thereceptacle to the article 42.

The receptacle of the refilling device 40 can also be used to facilitatethe mixing of aerosol-generating material 52 before it is transferred tothe article 30. For example, if a first reservoir interface 46 receivesa first reservoir 50 containing a first aerosol-generating material 52and a second reservoir interface 46 receives a second reservoir 50containing a second aerosol-generating material 52, then the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 can be configured to facilitate the transfer of thefirst aerosol-generating material 52 from the first reservoir 50 intothe receptacle, and facilitate the transfer of the secondaerosol-generating material 52 from the second reservoir into thereceptacle. The first aerosol-generating material 52 and the secondaerosol-generating material 52 can then be mixed in the receptacle, andthe mixture of the first aerosol-generating material 52 and the secondaerosol-generating material 52 transferred to the article

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an example article 30 for use in theaerosol provision system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 , where the samereference signs have been used for like elements between the article 30illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 and the article 30 illustrated in FIG.4 . As per the article 30 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the article 30illustrated in FIG. 4 includes an aerosol-generating material storagearea 39 for storing an aerosol-generating material 32, anaerosol-generating material transfer component 37, an aerosol generationarea containing an aerosol generator 36, a mouthpiece 35, articlecontrol circuitry 38 and one or more one or more connectors 31. Althoughthe aerosol-generating material storage area 39 is illustrated in FIG. 4as being either side of the aerosol generator 36 and the air channel 23,the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 can be a singlecomponent entirely or substantially surrounding the aerosol generator 36and the air channel 23.

Like the article 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 , the article 30 illustratedin FIG. 4 is configured to be refilled and reused. In other words, theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30illustrated in FIG. 4 can be refilled with aerosol-generating material32 once some or all of the aerosol-generating material 32 contained inthe aerosol-generating material storage area 39 has been exhausted ordepleted. To facilitate the refilling or replenishment ofaerosol-generating material 32, the article 30 has a refilling tube 33extending between the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 andthe exterior or an outer surface of the housing of the article 30,thereby creating a refilling orifice 34. In the example illustrated inFIG. 4 , the refilling orifice 34 is located on a side wall 330 of thearticle 30. In other words, the interface 22 to couple the article 30 tothe aerosol provision device 20 and one or more connectors 31 arelocated at a first end 310 of the article 30. A second end 320 islocated opposite the first end 310 along an axis extending between thefirst end 310 and the second end 320 (the x-axis in the exampleillustrated in FIG. 4 ). The refilling orifice 34 is then located on aside wall 330 of the article 30 between the first end 310 and the secondend 320.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the article 30 is generally elongate with anaxis A (parallel with the x-axis in FIG. 4 ) extending centrally throughthe article 30 between the first end 310 and the second end 320. Therefilling orifice 34 is located on the sidewall 330 at a distancefurthest from this central axis A. In other words, the refilling orifice34 is located at the greatest radial point away from the central axis A.This facilitates refilling of the article 30, and in particular theventing of air from the article 30 during refilling, when the article isrefilled with the axis A aligned in a horizontal direction (parallelwith the x-axis in FIG. 4 ) as is described in more detail below.Alternatively, the refilling orifice 34 may be located at the second end320 of the article 30, such that refilling orifice 34 is located at thegreatest point or distance away from the first end 310 of the article 30in the axis extending between the first end 310 and the second end 320.

In a similar fashion to the article illustrated in FIG. 2 ,aerosol-generating material 32 can then be inserted into theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30illustrated in FIG. 4 via the refilling orifice 34 and refilling tube33. As described above, the refilling orifice 34 and/or the refillingtube 33 may be sealable, for example with a cap, one-way valve or septumvalve. In other words, the refilling orifice 34 can comprise a cap,one-way valve or septum valve.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the mouthpiece 35 is located at the secondend 320. In other words, the mouthpiece 35 is opposite the interface 22with the aerosol provision device 20. The mouthpiece 35 may be anintegral part of the article 30 or alternatively the mouthpiece 35 maybe a separate component. In the latter case, the second end 320 of thearticle 30 is configured to receive the mouthpiece 35, such that themouthpiece 35 can be attached to the article 30 when the article 30 isto be used as part of an aerosol provision system 10, and the mouthpiece35 can be detached or otherwise removed from the article 30 before thearticle 30 is received by the article interface 42 of the refillingdevice 40.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic diagrams of a refilling device 40 for anarticle of an aerosol provision system, such as the article 30illustrated in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4 , and the reservoir 50 illustrated inFIG. 3 or FIGS. 7A and 7B. The same reference signs have been used forlike elements between the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 andthe refilling device illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Like the refillingdevice 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 , the refilling device 40 illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B comprises an article interface 42 configured to receivethe article 30, a reservoir interface 46 configured to receive areservoir 50, a duct 43 connecting a refilling inlet 45 to a refillingoutlet 44, and refilling control circuitry 48 configured to control theoperation of the refilling device 40.

Like the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 , the refillingdevice 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B facilitates the transfer of theaerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 to the article 30 inorder to refill or replenish the aerosol-generating material storagearea 39 of the article 30 with aerosol-generating material. In otherwords, the refilling device 40 is a refilling apparatus for an article30 of an aerosol provision system 10.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B can also beconsidered a desktop refilling device 40. As described above, a desktoprefilling device is a refilling device designed for regular use at asingle location on or near a desk, table or other solid surface due toits size and power requirements. For example, desktop refilling device40 can comprise an external power supply, such as a mains power orsupply to which the refilling device 40 can be coupled, attached orotherwise connected. The refilling device 40 may also comprise aninternal power source, such as a battery, configured to supplyelectrical power to the components of the refilling device 40 in theevent that the external power supply is not available or unexpectedlycuts out in the middle of operation. Additionally, the desktop refillingdevice may have one or more sides with a length of at least 100 mm, such200 or 500 mm.

Like the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 , the refillingdevice 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B comprises a flat surface 410 tofacilitate storage of the desktop refilling device 40 on another flatsurface, such as a desk, table or other solid surface. This allows thedesktop refilling device 40 to rest stably and level on another surface.The flat surface 410 may comprise a non-slip mat or coating in order toprevent the desktop refilling device from being knocked or pushed. Thenon-slip mat may be made of rubber or any other suitable material with ahigh coefficient of friction. More generally, the desktop refillingdevice 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B has the flat surface 410 at afirst end of the refilling device 40 and a second surface 420 at asecond end of the refilling device 40. The second end is opposite thefirst end, such that a major axis or length of the refilling device 40extends between the first end and the second end. When the first end andflat surface 410 are placed or otherwise located on a horizontal surface(e.g. aligned with x-axis in FIGS. 5A and 5B), the major axis or lengthof the refilling device 40 extends in a vertical direction (aligned withthe y-axis in FIGS. 5A and 5B) between the first end and the second end.The flat surface 410 can therefore be considered as the base, bottom orfoot of the refilling device The refilling device 40 may comprise aplurality of flat surfaces, for example one at each of four corners ofthe refilling device 40 such that the plurality of flat surfaces formfeet or legs to support the refilling device 40 on another flat surface.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reservoir interface 46 is locatedabove the article interface 42. In other words the reservoir interface46 is located at a higher position than the article interface 42 suchthat, in use, the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 to the article 30 is gravity assisted, thereby reducing theenergy required to transfer aerosol-generating material 52. The x-axisshown in FIGS. 5A and 5B aligns with a horizontal direction and they-axis shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B aligns with a vertical direction. Afirst end of the refilling device 40 comprises the flat surface 410 toallow the refilling device 40 to be located on a horizontal surface. Asillustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reservoir interface 46 is locatedfurther (in other words, a greater distance along the major axis orlength of the refilling device 40) from the flat surface 410 than thearticle interface 42. This ensures that, when the flat surface 410 isplaced on another flat surface (such as a horizontal surface), such asin the case of a desktop refilling device as described above, the flatsurface 410 aligns with the x-axis (or horizontal direction), and thereservoir interface 46 is located at a higher position than the articleinterface 42.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the article interface 42 isconfigured to receive the article 30 when the article 30 is separatedfrom the aerosol provision device 20. As set out above with reference toFIG. 1 , when used as an aerosol provision system 10, the aerosolprovision device 20 and article 30 are mechanically coupled together viainterfaces 22, 24. The article interface 42 is configured such that,before the article 30 is received by the article interface 42, thearticle is detached, disconnected or otherwise separated from theaerosol provision device 20 such that only the article 30 is received bythe article interface 42 (in other words, the aerosol provision system20 is not received by the article interface 42). This means that theaerosol provision device 20 is not required in order for the article 30to be refilled with aerosol generating material 32.

The article interface 42 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B comprises aholder 420. The holder 420 is configured to slide between a closedconfiguration 420 a and an open configuration 420 b. The housing 400 ofthe refilling device 40 comprises an article opening 422, and the holderis configured to slide into and out of the article opening 422. Theholder 420 and a portion of the refilling device 40 may comprise railsand corresponding grooves to allow the holder 420 to side in a planarfashion (e.g. along the x-axis as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B). Inother words, the holder 420 is configured to slide in a horizontaldirection when the refilling device 40 is located on a horizontalsurface (i.e. when the first end and flat surface 410 are placed orotherwise located on a horizontal surface aligned with x-axis in FIGS.5A and 5B).

FIG. 5A illustrates the holder 420 in the closed configuration 420 a.When the holder 420 in a closed configuration 420 a, the holder 420 islocated substantially within the housing 400 of the refilling device 40.In other words, the holder 420 is contained within and/or enclosed bythe housing 400 of the refilling device 40 such that the articleinterface 42 is configured to enclose the article 30 inside the housing400 of the refilling device 40 when the holder 420 in a closedconfiguration 420 a. The refilling control circuitry 48 is thenconfigured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 when the holder 420 is in theclosed configuration 420 a. In other words, the holder 420 is configuredto support the article 30 during the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30.

The refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured to detect, forexample using a sensor or contact electrode, when the holder 420 is inthe closed configuration 420 a, and to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30in response to detected that the holder 420 is in the closedconfiguration 420 a. Alternatively, the refilling control circuitry 48may detect that the holder 420 is in the closed configuration 420 a, butonly facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 to the article 30 in response to an input by a user of therefilling device 40, for example via an input means such as a button,touch screen or switch. Transferring aerosol-generating material 52 fromthe reservoir 50 to the article 30 when the holder 420 is in the closedconfiguration 420 a ensures that the article interface 42 encloses thearticle 30 inside the housing 400 of the refilling device 40 during thetransfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to thearticle 30. This prevents the user from touching, interfering with orremoving the article 30 during the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial 52, thereby improving the safety of the transfer and refillingprocess.

As described above, the housing 400 of the refilling device 40 comprisesan article opening 422. An outer surface 421 of the holder 420 closesthe article opening 422 such that the outer surface 421 of the holder420 lies flush with the housing 400 when the holder 420 is in the closedconfiguration 420 a. The outer surface 421 of the holder 420 thereforesubstantially confirms to the shape of the housing 400, thereby forminga portion of the housing 400.

FIG. 5B illustrates the holder 420 in the open configuration 420 b. Inthe open configuration, the holder 420 is at least partially locatedoutside the housing 400 of the refilling device 40. In other words, atleast a portion of the holder 420 is not enclosed or contained withinthe housing 400 when the holder 420 is in the open configuration 420 b.As illustrated in FIG. 8B, the outer surface 421 of the holder 420 isdisplaced away from the housing 400 along the x-axis, such that theouter surface 421 is not flush with the housing 400 when the holder 420is in the open configuration 420 b. Accordingly, the article opening 422is not closed by the outer surface 421 in the open configuration 420 b,and the article opening 422 provides a gap or hole in the housing 400 ofthe refilling device 40 through which the holder 420 can slide.

The holder 420 is configured to receive the article 30 when the holder420 is in the open configuration 420 b. In other words, since the holder420 is at least partially located outside the housing 400 of therefilling device 40 in the open configuration 420 b, the user is able toplace, position or otherwise couple the article 30 in the holder 420when the holder 420 is in the open configuration 420 b such that thearticle 30 is received by the holder 420 of the article interface 42.When the holder 420 slides between the open configuration 420 b and theclosed configuration 420 a, the holder 420 also transports the article30; in other words, the article 30 slides into and out of the articleopening 422 along with the holder 420.

The holder illustrated in FIG. 5B is a tray 420 configured to receivethe article 30 from above such that the article 30 rests on the tray 420when the refilling device 40 is located on a horizontal surface. Asdescribed above, the refilling device 40 has a flat surface 410 tofacilitate storage of the refilling device 40 on another flat surface.As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the flat surface 410 can be aligned such thatthe flat surface is substantially horizontal (along the x-axis in FIG.5B). The tray 420 is then configured to receive the article 30 downwardsin a vertical direction (in other words, a direction perpendicular tothe flat surface 410, in the negative y-direction in FIG. 5B). Thearticle 30 is therefore lowered from above onto the tray 420 such thatthe article 30 rests on the tray in a horizontal orientation. In otherwords, the holder/tray 420 is configured to receive the article 30 in ahorizontal orientation (along the x-axis in FIG. 5B) when the refillingdevice is located on a horizontal surface (i.e. when the flat surface410 is aligned such that the flat surface 410 is substantiallyhorizontal). The article 30 is therefore received in substantially thesame orientation as the flat surface 410 (i.e. in the plane of the flatsurface 410).

The tray 420 can comprise a trough with a size and shape substantiallyconforming to a perimeter size and shape of the article 30. In otherwords, the trough is a cut-out which mirrors the size and shape of thearticle 30 such that the article 30 is securely retained in the tray 420on each side of the article 30 by the trough, for example by a locationfit, similar fit, or press fit. This ensures that the article 30 doesnot move or roll as the holder 420 moves between the open configuration420 b and the closed configuration 420 a. The trough is also positionedwithin the tray to ensure that the refilling orifice 34 on the article30 is located proximate to the refilling outlet 44 when the holder 420is in the closed configuration 420 a. In other words, the trough ensuresthat the refilling orifice 34 of the article 30 is correctly locatedproximate to the refilling outlet 44 when the holder 420 is in theclosed configuration 420 a in order to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol generating material into the article 30.

As can be seen by comparing the axes in FIGS. 4 and 5B, the article 30is received by the holder 420 in a horizontal orientation such at thatthe elongate length extending centrally through the article 30 betweenthe first end 310 and the second end 320 (along the axis A in FIG. 4 )aligns with a horizontal direction (parallel with the x-axis) when thearticle 30 rests on or in the holder 420 and the refilling device 40 islocated on a horizontal surface (i.e. when the flat surface 410 isaligned such that the flat surface 410 is substantially horizontal). Asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 4 , this results in the refillingorifice 34 being located at the highest point on the article 30 sincethe refilling orifice 34 is located on the sidewall 330 at a distancefurthest from the central axis A. In other words, the refilling orifice34 is the point on the article 30 which is the furthest distance fromthe flat surface 410 when the article 30 rests on or in the holder 420(i.e. when the article 30 is received by the holder 420). Thisfacilitates refilling of the article 30, and in particular the ventingof air from the article 30 during refilling, since the refilling orifice34 is located at the highest point on the article 30, resulting in airin the article 30 being displaced upwards (along the y-axis) to therefilling orifice 34 during the transfer of aerosol-generating material52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30.

Although not illustrated, the holder 420 may comprise the one or moreconnectors 41, such as contact electrodes, connected via electricalwiring to the refilling control circuitry 48 to facilitate communicationbetween the refilling control circuitry 48 and the article controlcircuitry 38; the connectors 31 on the article 30 mate with theconnectors 41 on the holder 420 when the article 30 is received by theholder 420, thereby allowing power to be supplied from the refillingdevice 40 to the article control circuitry 38 and electrical signals tobe transferred between the refilling control circuitry 48 and thearticle control circuitry 38. The connectors 41 may be arranged relativeto the holder 420, for example in the tray and/or trough, in a patternand position matching/mirroring the connectors 31 on the article 30 inorder to facilitate the mating of the connectors 31 on the article 30and the connectors 41 on the holder 420 when the article 30 is receivedby the holder 420.

Although not illustrated, a motor may be connected to the holder 420,with the refilling control circuitry 48 configured to operate the motorto slide the holder 420 between the open configuration 420 b and theclosed configuration 420 a. Alternatively, the holder 420 may comprise abiasing means, such as a spring, configured to bias the holder 420towards the open location 420 b. A force then needs to be applied on theholder 420 to overcome the biasing means and slide the holder 420 to theclosed configuration 420 a. In this case, there may be a latch, clip orother retaining mechanism to hold the holder 420 in the closedconfiguration 420 a.

The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to operate themotor to slide the holder 420 into the closed configuration 420 a inresponse to the article 30 being received by the holder 420. Forexample, the refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured to detect,for example using a sensor or contact electrode such as a connectionbetween the connectors 31, 41, when the article 30 has been received bythe holder 420, and to operate the motor to slide the holder 420 intothe closed configuration 420 a in response to detecting that the article30 has been received by the holder 420. Alternatively, the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 may detect that the article 30 has been received bythe holder 420, but operate the motor in response to an input by a userof the refilling device 40, for example via an input means such as abutton, touch screen or switch. The refilling control circuitry 48 maybe configured to provide a prompt to the user, for example byilluminating an indicator light, displaying a notification on a displayscreen or playing a sound, to provide the input on the input means.

Equally, the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to operatethe motor to slide the holder 420 to the open configuration 420 b inresponse to the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 to the article 30. The refilling control circuitry 48 maybe configured to detect that the transfer of aerosol-generating material52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 is complete and to operatethe motor in response to detecting that the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 is complete. Alternative, as describedabove, the refilling control circuitry 48 may detect that the transferof aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article30 is complete, but operate the motor in response to an input by a userof the refilling device 40, for example via an input means such as abutton, touch screen or switch. The refilling control circuitry 48 maybe configured to provide a prompt to the user, for example byilluminating an indicator light, displaying a notification on a displayscreen or playing a sound, to provide the input on the input means.

Where the device interface 49 comprises a biasing means, having placedthe article 30 into the holder 420, the user can push the holder 420,for example on the outer surface 421, to overcome the biasing means andslide the holder 420 from the open configuration 420 b to the closedconfiguration 420 a, where the retaining mechanism retains the holder420 in the closed configuration 420 a. In response to detecting that thetransfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to thearticle 30 is complete, the refilling control circuitry 48 can beconfigured to release the retaining mechanism such that the biasingmeans slides the holder 420 from the closed configuration 420 a to theopen configuration 420 b. Alternatively, the refilling control circuitry48 may detect that the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 fromthe reservoir 50 to the article 30 is complete, but release theretaining mechanism in response to an input by a user of the refillingdevice 40, for example via an input means such as a button, touch screenor switch. The refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured toprovide a prompt to the user, for example by illuminating an indicatorlight, displaying a notification on a display screen or playing a sound,to provide the input on the input means. In response to the userproviding an input on the input means, the refilling control circuitry48 can be configured to release the retaining mechanism, such that thebiasing means slides the holder 420 from the closed configuration 420 ato the open configuration 420 b. Alternatively, the input means can bemechanically connected to the retaining mechanism, such that the userinput directly releases the retaining mechanism.

As described above, the refilling control circuitry 48 is furtherconfigured to operate an indicator light on the refilling device 40based on the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 to the article 30. For example, the refilling controlcircuitry 48 can be configured to operate the indicator light to provideone or more of the prompts to user as described above, such as to notifythe user that the article 30 has been received by the holder 420, thereservoir 50 has been received by the reservoir interface 46 and/or thatthe transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 tothe article 30 is beginning, in progress, and/or complete. FIGS. 6A and6B illustrate indicator light arrangements for a refilling device 40,such as the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

The indicator light 423 illustrated in FIG. 6A is located on the articleinterface 42, in particular on the outer surface 421 of the holder 420of the article interface 42. By locating the indicator light 423 on theouter surface 421, the indicator light 423 can be seen by the user whenthe holder 420 is in both the open configuration 420 b and the closedconfiguration 420 a. Although the indicator light 423 is illustrated inFIG. 6A as being a rectangle located in the middle of the outer surface421, it will be appreciated that the indicator light 423 may to locatedanywhere on the outer surface 421 and be a size and shape such that theindicator light 423 provides one or more of the prompts to user asdescribed above.

FIG. 6B illustrates an alternative arrangement of indicator light 423.The indicator light 423 in FIG. 6B is located on the housing 400 of therefilling device 40, in particular surrounding the article opening 422.In other words, the indicator light 423 extends around the perimeter ofthe article opening 422 such that the indicator light 423 can be seen bythe user when the holder 420 is in both the open configuration 420 b andthe closed configuration 420 a, since the indicator light 423 willextend around the perimeter of the article opening 422 adjacent to theouter surface 421 of the holder 420 when the holder 420 is in the closedconfiguration 420 a. It will be appreciated, however, that the indicatorlight 423 may be located on another surface of the refilling device,such as the second surface 420. Locating the indicator light 423 on orproximate to the article interface 42 makes it clear to the user thatthe prompt or notification provided by the indicator light 423 relatesto the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50to the article 30, and more specifically to the article interface 42and/or the article 30.

FIGS. 7A and 8B are schematic diagrams of example reservoirs for usewith a refilling device 40, such as the refilling device illustrated inFIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 . As described above, the reservoir 50 comprisesaerosol-generating material 52 (not illustrated) for transferring, bythe refilling device 40, to the article 30 in order to refill orreplenish the aerosol-generating material 32 in the aerosol-generatingmaterial storage area 39 of the article 30.

The reservoir 50 illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B comprises a first, orbottom, end 510 of the reservoir 50 and a second, or top, end 520 of thereservoir 50. The second end 520 is opposite the first end 510, suchthat a major axis or length of the reservoir 50 extends between thefirst end 510 and the second end 520.

The reservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir 50 illustrated in FIGS. 7A and7B is located at the first end 510 of the reservoir 50. When thereservoir 50 is received by the refilling device 40, the reservoir isoriented such that the reservoir outlet 55 is located at the bottom orlowest point on the reservoir 50, thereby allowing the transfer ofaerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to be assisted bygravity.

The reservoir 50 illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B comprises a flange 530at the top or second end 520 of the reservoir 50. In other words, theflange 530 is on the opposite side of the reservoir 50 to the reservoiroutlet 55. The flange 530 is surface that extrudes outwards from themain body or casing 500 of the reservoir 50, providing a means ofconnecting the reservoir 50 to the refilling device 40 as described inmore detail below with respect to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

The reservoir 50 illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B also comprises a hold540 to allow the user to easily grip and hold the reservoir 50. Asillustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the hold 540 is located on a sidewall ofthe reservoir 50 between the first end 510 and the second end 520. InFIG. 7A, the hold comprises a flexible tab 540. The tab 540 isconfigured to lie flush against the body 500 of the reservoir 50 (inother words, against the sidewall of the reservoir 50) when the tab isnot being used by the user to hold the reservoir 50. This reduces thevolume of the reservoir 50 when the tab 540 is not being used. In FIG.7B, the hold comprises an integral finger which forms part of the body500 of the reservoir 50, in particular the sidewall of the reservoir.This provides a solid, rigid surface for the user to hold.

The reservoir 50 also comprises (not illustrated) reservoir controlcircuitry 58 configured to control the reservoir 50 and store parametersand/or data associated with the reservoir 50. The parameters associatedwith the reservoir 50 may include, for example data indicative of anamount of aerosol-generating material 52 stored in the reservoir 50,data relating to the aerosol-generating material 52 stored in thereservoir 50, such as one or more ingredients, the concentration and/oramount of the ingredients and/or one or more flavorants within theaerosol-generating material 52. The data may also comprise anidentifier, such as a serial number and/or SKU for the reservoir 50 orother means of identifying the reservoir 50 and/or the type of thereservoir 50, and a date of manufacture and/or expiry of the reservoir50. As described above in relation to the device control circuitry 28,the reservoir control circuitry 58 can be provided in various differentways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmablecomputer(s) and/or one or more suitably configured application-specificintegrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured to providethe desired functionality. For example, the reservoir control circuitry58 may comprise a microcontroller unit (MCU) or a system on chip (SoC).Alternatively, the reservoir control circuitry 58 may comprise a codeprinted onto the reservoir, such as a barcode or QR code, or an NFC chipor other form of passive tag.

The reservoir 50 illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B also comprises one ormore connectors 51 electrically coupled to the reservoir controlcircuitry 58. The connectors 51 are configured to mate with theconnectors 47 on the reservoir interface 46 when the reservoir 50 isreceived by the refilling device 40, thereby allowing power to besupplied from the refilling device 40 to the reservoir control circuitry58 and electrical signals to be transferred between the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 and the reservoir control circuitry 58. Asillustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the connectors 51 are located on theopposite side of the reservoir 50 to the hold 540, between the first end510 and the second end 520. In other words, the connectors 51 are on theside of the reservoir 50 corresponding to the negative z-direction inFIGS. 7A and 7B, whilst the hold 540 is located on the side of thereservoir 50 corresponding to the positive z-axis in FIGS. 7A and 7B.This allows the user to hold reservoir 50 without touching or damagingthe connector 51.

The reservoir 50 can have a volume of 10 ml or more, for example 20 ml,50 ml or 100 ml. In other words, the reservoir is configured to contain10 ml or more of aerosol-generating material 52 when the reservoir 50 isfilled with aerosol generating material 52. The reservoir interface 46of the refilling device 40 is then configured to receive a reservoir 50with a volume of 10 ml or more.

The reservoir 50 can also have a larger volume than the article 30. Forexample, the volume of the reservoir can be at least 5 times greaterthan the volume of the article, for example times, 20 times or 50 timesgreater. In other words, the reservoir is configured to contain, whenfilled with aerosol-generating material 52, a volume ofaerosol-generating material 52 at least 5 times greater than theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30. Thisallows the same reservoir 50 to be used to refill the article at least 5times. The reservoir interface 46 of the refilling device 40 is thenconfigured to receive a reservoir 50 with a volume at least 5 timesgreater than a volume of the article the article interface 42 of therefilling device 40 is configured to receive.

Although not illustrated, the reservoir 50 may also comprise a window ona sidewall of the reservoir 50 to allow the user to see the amount ofaerosol-generating material 52 contained in the reservoir 50.Alternatively, a portion of a sidewall of the reservoir 50 may betransparent to allow the user to see through the sidewall to see theamount of aerosol-generating material 52 contained in the reservoir 50.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are further schematic diagrams of the refilling device40 illustrated in Figured 5A and 5B, such that the features andoperation of the refilling device 40 described above with reference toFIGS. 5 to 6 , in particular the article interface 42, are also presentbut not necessarily illustrated in the refilling device 40 illustratedin FIGS. 8A and 8B. The same reference signs have been used for likeelements between the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6and the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the reservoir interface 46 is locatedon a different side of the refilling device 40 to the article interface42. The article interface 42 (as described above with reference to FIGS.5A and 5B) is on a side of the refilling device 40 corresponding to thepositive x-direction in FIGS. 8A and 8B, whilst the reservoir interface46 is located on a side of the refilling device 40 corresponding to thepositive z-direction in FIGS. 8A and 8B. In other words, the reservoirinterface 46 and the article interface 42 are orthogonal to each other.Alternatively, the reservoir interface 46 and the article interface 42could be opposite each other on the refilling device 40. For example,the article interface 42 could be on a side of the refilling device 40corresponding to the negative z-direction in FIGS. 8A and 8B, whilst thereservoir interface 46 is located on a side of the refilling device 40corresponding to the positive z-direction in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reservoirinterface 46 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B is located above the articleinterface 42. The reservoir interface 46 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8Bcomprises a holder 460 configured to receive the reservoir 50. Theholder 460 is a size and shape that corresponds to the size, depth andshape of at least a portion of the reservoir 50 such that at least aportion of the reservoir 50 can be inserted into the holder 460 in orderfor the reservoir 50 to be received by the reservoir interface 46. Forexample, the reservoirs illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B comprises aflange 530 at a top or second end 520 of the reservoir 50. In this case,the holder 460 can comprise rails or other guides to receive the flange530 of the reservoir 50. In other words, the flange 530 of the reservoircan be slid onto or into rails on the holder 460 so that the flange 530of the reservoir 50 rests in or on the holder 460 when the reservoir 50is received by the holder 460.

The reservoir interface 46 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B also comprisesa retaining mechanism 461 configured to retain the reservoir 50 in theholder 460. The retaining mechanism 461 may be a latch, clip, springclip, or other retaining means suitable to hold and retain the reservoir50 in the holder 460. The retaining mechanism 461 is illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B as being located on the holder 460, but it will beappreciated that the retaining mechanism 461 can be located anywhere onthe reservoir interface 46 in order to retain and hold the reservoir 50in the holder 460.

The holder 460 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B comprises one or moreconnectors 47, such as contact electrodes, connected via electricalwiring to the refilling control circuitry 48 to facilitate communicationbetween the refilling control circuitry 48 and the reservoir controlcircuitry 58; the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 mate with theconnectors 47 on the holder 460 when the reservoir 50 is received by theholder 460, thereby allowing power to be supplied from the refillingdevice 40 to the reservoir control circuitry 58 and electrical signalsto be transferred between the refilling control circuitry 48 and thereservoir control circuitry 58. The connectors 47 may be arrangedrelative to the holder 460 in a pattern and position matching/mirroringthe connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 in order to facilitate the matingof the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 and the connectors 47 on theholder 460 when the reservoir 50 is received by the holder 460.Alternatively the connectors 47 may be located elsewhere on thereservoir interface 46 provided that the connectors 51 on the reservoir50 mate with the connectors 47 when the reservoir 50 is received by theholder 460.

The holder 460 is also configured such that the reservoir outlet 55 onthe reservoir 50 is located proximate to the refilling inlet 45 when thereservoir 50 is received by the holder 460. This allows the refillinginlet 45 to mate with a reservoir outlet 55 during the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30.In other words, the holder 460 is a size and shape such when thereservoir 50 is located in the holder 460 and retained by the retainingmechanism 461, the reservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir 50 is locatedproximate to the refilling inlet 45.

The holder 460 may be a size and shape such that the reservoir 50 canonly be received by the holder 460 in one orientation, such thatreservoir outlet 55 on the reservoir 50 is located proximate to therefilling inlet 45 and the connectors 51 on the reservoir 50 mate withthe connectors 47 on the holder 460 when the reservoir 50 is received bythe holder 460 (i.e. the reservoir 50 is located in the holder 460 andretained by the retaining mechanism 461).

The holder 460 is configured to receive the reservoir 50 in a horizontaldirection (along the x-axis in FIG. 5B) when the refilling device 40 islocated on a horizontal surface (i.e. when the flat surface 410 isaligned such that the flat surface 410 is substantially horizontal). Aswill be appreciated by comparing FIGS. 7A and 7B with FIGS. 8A and 8B,the holder 460 is configured to receive the reservoir 50 such that thereservoir outlet 55 is located at the lowest point of the reservoir 50.In other words, when the reservoir 50 is received by the holder 460, thereservoir outlet 55 is the closest point on the reservoir 50 to the flatsurface 410 of the refilling device. As described above, this allows thetransfer of aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to beassisted by gravity.

The reservoir interface 46 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B is locatedwithin a reservoir opening 462 in the housing 400 of the refillingdevice 40. In other words, the reservoir interface 46 is containedwithin and/or enclosed by the housing 400 of the refilling device 40such that the reservoir interface 46 is configured enclose the reservoir50 inside the housing 400 of the refilling device 40 during the transferof aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article

The housing 400 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B comprises an access panel463. The access panel 463 is configured to move between an openconfiguration 463 b and a closed configuration 463 a.

FIG. 8A illustrates the access panel 463 in the closed configuration 463a. When the access panel 463 in the closed configuration 463 a, thereservoir opening 462 is sealed by the access panel 463. In other words,when the access panel 463 is in the closed configuration 463 a, thereservoir interface 46 is enclosed and sealed within the housing 400such that the reservoir 50 cannot be removed or inserted into thereservoir interface 46. The refilling control circuitry 48 is thenconfigured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 with the access panel 463 is inthe closed configuration 463 a. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, an outersurface 464 of the access panel 463 is flush with or proximate to thesecond or top surface 420 of the housing 400 when the access panel 463in the closed configuration 463 a, such that the access panel 463substantially confirms to the shape of the housing 400, thereby forminga portion of the housing 400.

The refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured to detect, forexample using a sensor or contact electrode, when the access panel 463is in the closed configuration 463 a, and to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30in response to detecting that the access panel 463 is in the closedconfiguration 463 a. Alternatively, the refilling control circuitry 48may detect that the access panel 463 is in the closed configuration 463a, but only facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 to an input by a user of therefilling device 40, for example via an input means such as a button,touch screen or switch. Transferring aerosol-generating material 52 fromthe reservoir 50 to the article 30 when the access panel 463 is in theclosed configuration 463 a ensures that the reservoir interface 46encloses the reservoir 50 inside the housing 400 of the refilling device40 during the transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from thereservoir 50 to the article 30. This prevents the user from touching,interfering with or removing the reservoir 50 during the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52, thereby improving the safety of thetransfer and refilling process.

FIG. 8B illustrates the access panel 463 in the open configuration 463b. In the open configuration, the access panel 463 does not seal orcover the reservoir opening 462. In other words, the housing 400 of therefilling device 40 does not fully enclose the reservoir interface 46.The reservoir opening 462 therefore provides a gap or hole in thehousing 400 of the refilling device 40 through which the reservoirinterface 46 can be accessed. Accordingly, the reservoir interface 46 isconfigured to receive the reservoir 50 when the access panel 463 is inthe open configuration 463 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 8B, the access panel 463 is displaced upwardsalong the y-axis (along the major axis of the refilling device 40), suchthat the outer surface 464 of the access panel 463 is not flush with orproximate to the second or top surface 420 of the housing 400 when theaccess panel 463 in the open configuration 463 b. As described abovewith reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the holder 420 of the articleinterface 42 is configured to slide between an open configuration 420 band a closed configuration 420 a. The holder 420 is configured to slidea horizontal direction aligned with the x-axis when the refilling device40 is located on a horizontal surface (i.e. when the first end and flatsurface 410 are placed or otherwise located on a horizontal surfacealigned with x-axis in FIGS. 5A and 5B). As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and8B, the access panel 463 moves between the open configuration 463 b andthe closed configuration 463 a in a vertical direction aligned with they-axis when the refilling device 40 is located on a horizontal surface(i.e. when the first end and flat surface 410 are placed or otherwiselocated on a horizontal surface aligned with x-axis in FIGS. 8A and 8B).Accordingly, the holder 420 slides in a direction perpendicular to thedirection the access panel 463 moves between the open configuration 463a and the closed configuration 463 b.

The access panel 463 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B is a sliding panelthat slides between the open configuration 463 a and the closedconfiguration 463 b. For example, the access panel 463 and a portion ofthe refilling device 40 may comprise rails and corresponding grooves toallow the access panel 463 to side in a planar fashion (e.g. along they-axis as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B).

The access panel 463 illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B extends aroundsubstantially part of or substantially all of the perimeter of thehousing 400 of the refilling device 40. In other words, the access panel463 is partial or complete tube that slides around and along the outsideof the housing 400 of the refilling device 40. The access panel 463 mayextend around half of the housing 400, 75% of the housing 400 or theentirety of the housing 400. It will be appreciated, however, that theaccess panel 463 may extend around any portion of the housing such thatthe access panel 463 seals the reservoir opening 462 when the accesspanel 463 is in the closed configuration 463 a and access panel 463opens or otherwise exposes the reservoir opening 462 when the accesspanel 463 is in the open configuration 463 b.

The access panel 463 may comprise a window, for example at a locationthat is proximate to the reservoir opening 462 when the access panel 463is in the closed configuration 463 b. This allows the user to seethrough the access panel 463 and the reservoir opening 462 to observethe reservoir and the refilling process. Alternatively, a portion of theaccess panel 463 at a location that is proximate to the reservoiropening 462 when the access panel 463 is in the closed configuration 463b may be transparent to allow the user to see through the access panel463 and the reservoir opening 462 to observe the reservoir and therefilling process.

As described above, the reservoir interface 46 is configured to receivethe reservoir 50 when the access panel 463 is in the open configuration463 b. The reservoir 50 is received by the holder 460 and the retainingmechanism 461 retains the reservoir 50 in the holder 460. In order toremove the reservoir 50 from the reservoir interface 46, the user may beable to pull on a surface of the reservoir 50, such as the hold 540, inorder to provide a force to overcome the retaining mechanism 461. Forexample, where the retaining mechanism 461 is a spring clip, pulling onthe hold 540 of the reservoir 50 will provide sufficient force toovercome the retaining force of the spring clip and to remove thereservoir 50 from the reservoir interface 46. Alternatively, therefilling control circuitry 48 is configured to release the retainingmechanism, for example in response to the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article 30, or in response to auser input on an input means. Where the retaining mechanism 461 is alatch, the reservoir 50 may only be removable from the reservoirinterface 46 in response to the latch being released, either by therefilling control circuitry 48 or through actuation by the user of aswitch or button mechanical linked to the latch.

The holder 460 is configured to receive the reservoir 50 such that thehold 540 is located proximate and/or is the closest point on thereservoir to the reservoir opening 462, thereby allowing the user togrip and pull on the hold 540 in order to remove the reservoir 50 fromthe holder 460.

A motor may be connected to the access panel 463, with the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 configured to operate the motor to move the accesspanel 463 between the open configuration 463 b and the closedconfiguration 463 a. Alternatively, the access panel 463 may comprise abiasing means, such as a spring, configured to bias the access panel 463towards the open configuration 463 b. A force then needs to be appliedon the access panel 463 to overcome the biasing means and move theaccess panel 463 to the closed configuration 463 a. In this case, theremay be a latch, clip or other retaining means to hold the access panel463 in the closed configuration 463 a.

The access panel 463 may be configured to move between the openconfiguration 463 b and the closed configuration 463 a in response to aninput on the refilling device 40 by a user of the refilling device 40.For example, where the access panel 463 comprises a motor, the refillingdevice 40 may comprise input means such as a button, touch screen orswitch. In response to the user providing an input on the input means,the refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to operate themotor to move the access panel 463 from the open configuration 463 b tothe closed configuration 463 a. The refilling control circuitry 48 canbe configured to operate the motor to move the access panel 463 from theclosed configuration 463 a to the open configuration 463 b in responseto a further input from the user, either on the input means via adifferent input means.

Where the access panel 463 comprises a biasing means, in response to theuser providing an input on the input means, the refilling controlcircuitry 48 can be configured to release the retaining means, therebyallowing the biasing means to more the closed configuration 463 a to theopen configuration 463 b. Alternatively, the input means can bemechanically connected to the retaining mechanism, such that the userinput directly released the retaining means. The user can then push theaccess panel 463, for example on the outer surface 464, to overcome thebiasing means and return the access panel 463 from the openconfiguration 463 b to the closed configuration 463 a, where theretaining means retains the access panel 463 in the closed configuration463 a.

In each case, the input means may be located on the housing 400 of therefilling device proximate to the access panel 463, or on a differentlocation on the refilling device 40. Alternatively, the input means maybe located on the access panel 463, such as on the outer surface 494 ofthe access panel 463 or a surface of the access panel 463 proximate tothe reservoir opening when the access panel 463 is in the closedconfiguration 463 a.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic diagrams of a refilling device 40 for anarticle of an aerosol provision system, such as the article 30illustrated in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4 , and the reservoir 50 illustrated inFIG. 3 or FIGS. 7A and 7B.

The refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B is substantiallythe same as the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 ,such that the features and operation of the refilling device 40described above with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8 are also present, butnot necessarily illustrated, in the refilling device 40 illustrated inFIGS. 9A and 9B. The same reference signs have been used for likeelements between the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8and the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

In addition to the features described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to8 , the refilling device 40 illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B includes adevice interface 49. As described above with reference to FIG. 3 , thedevice interface 49 configured to receive the aerosol provision device20. Control circuitry, such as the refilling control circuitry 48described above, is then configured to transfer electrical power to theaerosol provision device 20 for charging a power source 14 of theaerosol provision device 20. For example, the control circuitry 48 maybe configured to charge a power source 14 of the aerosol provisiondevice 20 in response to the aerosol provision device 20 being receivedby the device interface 49.

FIG. 9A illustrates the device interface 49 at a first location 49 a.When the device interface 49 is at the first location 49 a, the deviceinterface 49 is located within the housing 400 of the refilling device40. In other words, the device interface 49 is contained within and/orenclosed by the housing 400 of the refilling device 40 such that theaerosol provision device 20 cannot received by the article interface 49.This protects the components of the device interface 49 when the deviceinterface 49 is not in use.

As illustrated in FIG. 9A, an outer surface 491 of the article interface49 may lie flush with the housing 400 when the device interface 49 at afirst location 49 a such that the outer surface 491 of the articleinterface 49 substantially confirms to the shape of the housing 400,thereby forming a portion of the housing 400.

FIG. 9B illustrates the device interface 49 at a second location 49 b.When the device interface 49 is at the second location 49 a, the deviceinterface 49 at least partially located outside the housing 400 of therefilling device 40. In other words, at least a portion of the deviceinterface 49 is not enclosed or contained within the housing 400 whenthe device interface 49 is at the second location 49 a. As illustratedin FIG. 9B, the outer surface 491 of the device interface 49 isdisplaced away from the housing 400 along the z-axis, such that theouter surface 491 is not flush with the housing 400 when the deviceinterface 49 is at the second location 49 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the device interface 49 is located on adifferent side of the refilling device to the article interface 42. Thearticle interface 42 (as described above with reference to FIGS. 5A and5B) is on a side of the refilling device 40 corresponding to thepositive x-direction in FIG. 9B, whilst the device interface 49 islocated on a side of the refilling device corresponding to the positivez-axis in FIG. 9B. In other words, the device interface 49 and thearticle interface 42 are orthogonal to each other. Alternatively, thedevice interface 49 and the article interface 42 could be opposite eachother on the refilling device 40. For example, the article interface 42could be on a side of the refilling device 40 corresponding to thenegative z-direction in FIG. 9B, whilst the device interface 49 islocated on a side of the refilling device 40 corresponding to thepositive z-axis in FIG. 9B.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the device interface 49 is located on thesame different side of the refilling device 40 to the reservoirinterface 46. Alternatively, the device interface 49 and the reservoirinterface 46 could be opposite each other on the refilling device 40,such that each of the article interface 42, the reservoir interface 46and the device interface 49 are located on different sides of therefilling device 40.

The device interface 49 is configured to slide between the firstlocation 49 a and the second location 49 b. For example, the deviceinterface 49 and a portion of the refilling device may comprise railsand corresponding grooves to allow the device interface 49 to side in aplanar fashion (e.g. along the z-axis as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and9B).

A motor may be connected to the device interface 49, with the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 configured to operate the motor to move the deviceinterface 49 between the first location 49 a and the second location 49b. Alternatively, the device interface 49 may comprise a biasing means,such as a spring, configured to bias the device interface 49 towards thesecond location 49 b. A force then needs to be applied on the deviceinterface 49 to overcome the biasing means and move the device interface49 to the first location 49 a. In this case, there may be a latch, clipor other retaining mechanism to hold the device interface 49 in thefirst location 49 a.

The device interface 49 may be configured to slide from the firstlocation 49 a to the second location 49 b in response to an input on therefilling device 40 by a user of the refilling device 40. For example,where the device interface 49 comprises a motor, the refilling device 40may comprise input means such as a button, touch screen or switch. Inresponse to the user providing an input on the input means, therefilling control circuitry 48 can be configured to operate the motor tomove the device interface 49 from the first location 49 a to the secondlocation 49 b. The refilling control circuitry 48 can be configured tooperate the motor to move the device interface 49 from the secondlocation 49 a to the first location 49 b in response to a further inputfrom the user, either on the input means via a different input means.

Where the device interface 49 may comprise a biasing means, in responseto the user providing an input on the input means, the refilling controlcircuitry 48 can be configured to release the retaining mechanism,thereby allowing the biasing means to more the device interface 49 fromthe first location 49 a to the second location 49 b. Alternatively, theinput means can be mechanically connected to the retaining mechanism,such that the user input directly released the retaining mechanism. Theuser can then push the device interface 49, for example on the outersurface 491, to overcome the biasing means and return the deviceinterface 49 from the second location to the first location, where theretaining mechanism retains the device interface 49 in the firstlocation 49 a.

In each case, the input means may be located on the housing 400 of therefilling device proximate to the device interface 49, or on a differentlocation on the refilling device 40. Alternatively, the input means maybe located on the device interface, such as on the outer surface 491 ofthe device interface 49.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the device interface 49 is configured toreceive the aerosol provision device 20 at the second location 49 b. Thedevice interface 49 illustrated in FIG. 9B comprises a recess 492configured to receive aerosol provision device 20. The recess 492 is asize and shape that corresponds to the size, depth and shape of aportion of the aerosol provision device 20 such that a portion of theaerosol provision device 20 can be inserted into the recess 492 in orderfor the aerosol provision device 20 to be received by the deviceinterface 49. The recess then secures and retains the aerosol provisiondevice 20 in place.

The device interface 49 illustrated in FIG. 9B also comprises one ormore connectors 493, such as contact electrodes, connected viaelectrical wiring to the refilling control circuitry 48. The connectors493 are arranged relative to the recess 492 and the device interface 49in a pattern and position matching/mirroring connectors on the portionof the aerosol provision device in order to facilitate the mating of theconnectors 26 on the aerosol provision device 20 and the connectors 493on the device interface 49 when the aerosol provision device 20 isreceived by the device interface 49. For example, the connector 493 onthe device interface 49 may correspond to a USB-C, mini or micro USBmale connector, with the connector 26 on the aerosol provision device 20corresponding to the equivalent USB-C, mini or micro USB femaleconnector. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, the connector on the aerosolprovision device 20 is located on an end of the aerosol provision device20 opposite the end of the aerosol provision device where the interface24 is located. Alternatively, the connector on the aerosol provisiondevice 20 that mates with the connector 493 on the device interface 49may be located on any surface of the aerosol provision device 20 otherthan the end or surface where the interface 24 with the article 30 islocated.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the device interface 49 is configured toreceive the aerosol provision device 20 in a vertical orientation whenthe refilling device 40 is located on a horizontal surface. As describedabove, the refilling device 40 has a flat surface 410 to facilitatestorage of the desktop refilling device on another flat surface. Asillustrated in FIG. 9B, the flat surface 410 can be aligned such thatthe flat surface is substantially horizontal (in the x-z plane in FIG.9B). The device interface 49 is then configured to receive the aerosolprovision device in a vertical direction (in other words, a directionperpendicular to the flat surface 410). In FIG. 9B, the recess 492 ofthe device interface 49 is located in the same x-z plane as the flatsurface 410, but on the opposite side of the refilling device 40; inother words, the flat surface 410 is on the negative y side of therefilling device 40 whilst the recess 492 of the device interface 49 islocated on the positive y side of the refilling device. This allows theaerosol provision device 20 to be received by the device interface 49from above by lowering the aerosol provision device 20 downwards ontothe device interface 49, into the recess 492 (in other words, in thenegative y direction).

By comparing FIGS. 5A and 5B with FIGS. 9A and 9B, it will also beappreciated that the device interface 49 in FIG. 8B is configured toreceive the aerosol provision device 20 in an orientation or directionperpendicular to an orientation or direction in which the articleinterface 42 is configured to receive the article 30. As described abovein reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the article interface 42 is configuredto receive the article 30 in a horizontal orientation when the refillingdevice 40 is located on a horizontal surface; this direction correspondsto the x-axis in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 9A and 9B. In contrast, the deviceinterface 49 is configured to receive the aerosol provision device 20 ina vertical orientation when the refilling device 40 is located on ahorizontal surface; this direction corresponds to the y-axis in FIGS.5A, 5B, 9A and 9B. Accordingly, the device interface 49 illustrated inFIG. 9A and 9B is configured to receive the aerosol provision device 20in an orientation or direction perpendicular to an orientation ordirection in which the article interface 42 is configured to receive thearticle 30.

As described above, the refilling control circuitry 48 of the refillingdevice is configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial 52 from a reservoir 50 to an article 30. For example, therefilling control circuitry 48 can facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 to an article 30 inresponse to detecting that the article 30 has been received by therefilling device 40. As described above, the refilling control circuitry48 can be configured to detect that the article 30 has been received bythe article interface 42, such as by detecting the connectors 31 on thearticle 30 mating with the connectors 41 on the refilling device whenthe article 30 is received by the article interface 42. As describedabove, the refilling control circuitry 48 may additionally detect thatan article 30 has been received by a holder 420 of the article interface42, and that the holder is in a closed configuration before facilitatingthe transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 to anarticle 30.

The refilling control circuitry 48 is further configured to determine anamount of aerosol generating material in the article 30 in response todetecting that the article 30 has been received by the refilling device40. As described above, the refilling control circuitry 48 can beconfigured to communicate with article control circuitry 38 in thearticle 30. The refilling control circuitry 48 can therefore determinean amount of aerosol generating material in the article 30 bycommunicating with the article control circuitry 38 and receiving anindication of the amount of aerosol generating material in the article30 from the article control circuitry 38. Alternatively, the refillingdevice 40 may comprise a sensor, such as a light, capacitive orultrasonic sensor configured to detect the amount of aerosol generatingmaterial in the article 30. The refilling control circuitry 48 cancontrol the sensor to detect the amount of aerosol generating materialin the article 30 in response to detecting that the article 30 has beenreceived by the refilling device 40, and then determine the amount ofaerosol generating material in the article 30 based on data receivedfrom the sensor.

The refilling control circuitry 48 is then configured to facilitate thetransfer of aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to thearticle 30 in response to determining that the amount of aerosolgenerating material in the article 30 is less that an article threshold.As will be appreciated, the article 30 need only be refilled withaerosol generating material when there is little or no aerosolgenerating material remaining in the article 30. The article thresholdis therefore set to ensure that the transfer of aerosol generatingmaterial 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article is not attempted whenthere is already a sufficient amount of aerosol generating material inthe article 30. For example, the article threshold may correspond tohalf of the capacity or volume of the aerosol-generating materialstorage area 39 of the article 30, or correspond to less than halfcapacity of the aerosol-generating material storage area 39, such as aquarter or a sixth. If the amount of aerosol generating material in thearticle is greater than the article reservoir threshold, then it is notpossible to facilitate the transfer of aerosol generating material 52,and the refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured to provide anotification to the user.

The amount of aerosol generating material 52 transferred from thereservoir 50 to the article 30 can be based on the amount of aerosolgenerating material in the article 30. For example, the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 can be configured to determine the amount ofcapacity or volume of the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 ofthe article, for example by communicating with the article controlcircuitry 38. The refilling control circuitry 48 is then configured tofacilitate the transfer of an amount of aerosol generating material 52from the reservoir 50 to the article 30 such that the aerosol-generatingmaterial storage area 39 of the article 30 is full or at capacity withaerosol generating material. In other words, the amount of aerosolgenerating material 52 transferred from the reservoir 50 to the article30 corresponds to the difference between the capacity or volume of theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30 and theamount of aerosol generating material in the article 30.

The refilling control circuitry 48 can also be configured to facilitatethe transfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 tothe article 30 in response to detecting that the reservoir 50 has beenreceived by the refilling device 40. As described above, the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 can be configured to detect that the reservoir 50has been received by the reservoir interface 46, such as by detectingthe connectors 51 on the reservoir 51 mating with the connectors 47 onthe refilling device 40 when the reservoir 50 is received by thereservoir interface 46. As described above, the refilling controlcircuitry 48 may additionally detect that a reservoir 50 has beenreceived by a holder 460 of the reservoir interface 46, and that anaccess panel 463 is in a closed configuration before facilitating thetransfer of aerosol-generating material 52 from a reservoir 50 to anarticle 30.

The refilling control circuitry 48 is further configured to determine anamount of aerosol generating material 52 in the reservoir 50 in responseto detecting that the reservoir 50 has been received by the refillingdevice 40. As described above, the refilling control circuitry 48 can beconfigured to communicate with reservoir control circuitry 58 in thereservoir 50. The refilling control circuitry 48 can therefore determinean amount of aerosol generating material in the reservoir 50 bycommunicating with the reservoir control circuitry 58 and receiving anindication of the amount of aerosol generating material in the reservoir50 from the reservoir control circuitry 58. Alternatively, the refillingdevice 40 may comprise a sensor, such as a light, capacitive orultrasonic sensor configured to detect the amount of aerosol generatingmaterial 52 in the reservoir 50. The refilling control circuitry 48 cancontrol the sensor to detect the amount of aerosol generating materialin the reservoir 50 in response to detecting that the reservoir 50 hasbeen received by the refilling device 40, and then determine the amountof aerosol generating material in the reservoir 50 based on datareceived from the sensor.

The refilling control circuitry 48 can then be configured to facilitatethe transfer of aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 tothe article 30 in response to determining that the amount of aerosolgenerating material 52 in the reservoir 50 is greater than a reservoirthreshold. The reservoir threshold represents a minimum amount ofaerosol generating material 52 that can be transferred from thereservoir 50 to the article 30. If the amount of aerosol generatingmaterial 52 in the reservoir 50 is less than a reservoir threshold, thenit is not possible to facilitate the transfer of aerosol generatingmaterial 52, and the refilling control circuitry 48 may be configured toprovide a notification to the user.

The amount of aerosol generating material 52 transferred from thereservoir 50 to the article 30 can be based on the amount of aerosolgenerating material 52 in the reservoir 50. For example, if the amountof aerosol generating material 52 in the reservoir 50 is less than anavailable capacity of the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 ofthe article 30 (in other words, if the amount of aerosol generatingmaterial 52 in the reservoir 50 is less than the difference between thecapacity of the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 and theamount of aerosol generating material in the article 30) the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 can be configured to facilitate the transfer of allof the aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to thearticle 30. Alternatively, if the amount of aerosol generating material52 in the reservoir 50 is less than an available capacity of theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 of the article 30 (in otherwords, if the amount of aerosol generating material 52 in the reservoir50 is less than the difference between the capacity of theaerosol-generating material storage area 39 and the amount of aerosolgenerating material in the article 30), then the refilling controlcircuitry 48 can be configured to facilitate the transfer of an amountof aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article30 corresponding to the available capacity of the aerosol-generatingmaterial storage area 39 of the article 30. In other words, therefilling control circuitry 48 is configured to facilitate the transferof aerosol generating material 52 from the reservoir 50 to the article30 such that the aerosol-generating material storage area 39 of thearticle 30 is full of aerosol generating material.

As described above, the refilling control circuitry 48 can also beconfigured to transfer electrical power to the aerosol provision device20 for charging a power source 14 of the aerosol provision device 20 inresponse to detecting that the aerosol provision device 20 has beenreceived by the refilling device 40. The refilling control circuitry 48may detect that the aerosol provision device 20 has been received by therefilling device 40 by detecting the connectors 26 on the aerosolprovision device 20 mating with the connectors 493 on the refillingdevice 40 when the aerosol provision device 20 is received by the deviceinterface 49.

A described above, a method of refilling an article 30 of an aerosolprovision system 10, performed by a refilling device 40, such as by therefilling control circuitry 48, comprises facilitating the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from a reservoir to the article in responseto detecting that the article has been received by the refilling device.The method may further comprise any of the steps and operationsperformed by the refilling device 40, and in particular the refillingcontrol circuitry 48 as described herein. The methods may be stored asinstructions on a computer readable storage medium, such that when theinstructions are executed by a processor, the methods described hereinare performed. The computer readable storage medium may benon-transitory.

As described above, the present disclosure relates to (but it notlimited to) a desktop refilling device for an article of an aerosolprovision system comprising an article interface configured to receivethe article, a reservoir interface configured to receive a reservoir,and refilling control circuitry configured to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article, whereinthe article interface and/or the reservoir interface are configured torespectively enclose the article and the reservoir inside a housing ofthe desktop refilling device during the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial from the reservoir to the article.

Thus, there has been described desktop refilling devices, articles foraerosol provision systems and aerosol provision systems.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist inunderstanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments areprovided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are notexhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages,embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or otheraspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on thescope of the disclosure, and that other embodiments may be utilized andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of thedisclosure. Various embodiments of the disclosure may suitably comprise,consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of thedisclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc.,other than those specifically described herein. In addition, thisdisclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but whichmay be claimed in future.

1. A desktop refilling device for an article of an aerosol provisionsystem comprising: an article interface configured to receive thearticle; a reservoir interface configured to receive a reservoir; andrefilling control circuitry configured to facilitate the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article, whereinthe article interface and/or the reservoir interface are configured torespectively enclose the article and the reservoir inside a housing ofthe desktop refilling device during the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial from the reservoir to the article.
 2. The desktop refillingdevice of claim 1, wherein the article interface comprises a holderconfigured to slide between an open configuration and a closedconfiguration, wherein the holder is at least partially located outsidethe housing in the open configuration and the holder is locatedsubstantially within the housing in the closed configuration.
 3. Thedesktop refilling device of claim 2, wherein the holder is configured toslide into and out of an article opening in the housing, and an outersurface of the holder is configured to close the article opening and lieflush with housing when the holder is in the closed configuration. 4.The desktop refilling device of claim 2, wherein the refilling controlcircuitry is configured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial from the reservoir to the article when the holder is in theclosed configuration.
 5. The desktop refilling device of claim 2,wherein the holder is configured to receive the article when the holderis in the open configuration.
 6. The desktop refilling device of claim5, wherein the holder is a tray configured to receive the article fromabove such that the article rests on the tray when the desktop refillingdevice is located on a horizontal surface.
 7. The desktop refillingdevice of claim 6, wherein the tray comprises a trough with a size andshape substantially conforming to a perimeter size and shape of thearticle.
 8. The desktop refilling device of claim 2, wherein the holderis configured to receive the article in a horizontal orientation whenthe desktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface.
 9. Thedesktop refilling device of claim claims, wherein the refilling controlcircuitry is further configured to operate a motor connected to theholder to slide the holder between the open configuration and the closedconfiguration.
 10. The desktop refilling device of claim 9, wherein therefilling control circuitry is further configured to operate the motorto slide the holder into the closed configuration in response to thearticle being received by the holder.
 11. The desktop refilling deviceof claim 9, wherein the refilling control circuitry is furtherconfigured to operate the motor to slide the holder to the openconfiguration in response to the transfer of aerosol-generating materialfrom the reservoir to the article.
 12. The desktop refilling device ofclaim 1, wherein the reservoir interface is located above the articleinterface when the desktop refilling device is located on a horizontalsurface.
 13. The desktop refilling device of claim 1, wherein therefilling control circuitry is further configured to operate anindicator light on the refilling device based on the transfer ofaerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article.
 14. Thedesktop refilling device of claim 13, wherein the indicator light islocated on the article interface.
 15. The desktop refilling device ofclaim 13 wherein the article interface comprises a holder configured toslide into and out of an article opening in the housing and theindicator light surrounds the article opening on the housing.
 16. Thedesktop refilling device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir interfacecomprises a holder with a retaining mechanism configured to receive andretain the reservoir.
 17. The desktop refilling device of claim 16,wherein the retaining mechanism is a spring clip.
 18. The desktoprefilling device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir interface is locatedwithin a reservoir opening in the housing.
 19. The desktop refillingdevice of claim 18, wherein the housing comprises an access panelconfigured to move between an open configuration and a closedconfiguration, wherein the reservoir interface is configured to receivethe reservoir when the access panel is in the open configuration, andthe reservoir opening is closed by the access panel when the accesspanel is in the closed configuration.
 20. The desktop refilling deviceof claim 19, wherein the access panel is a sliding panel.
 21. Thedesktop refilling device of claim 19, wherein the access panel extendsaround substantially part of or substantially all of a perimeter of thehousing.
 22. The desktop refilling device of claim 19, wherein thearticle interface comprises a holder configured to slide between an openconfiguration and a closed configuration, wherein the holder slides in adirection perpendicular to a direction the access panel moves betweenthe open configuration and the closed configuration.
 23. The desktoprefilling device of claim 1, wherein the desktop refilling devicecomprises a mains power supply.
 24. The desktop refilling device ofclaim 1, wherein the desktop refilling device comprises a flat surfaceto facilitate storage of the desktop refilling device on another flatsurface.
 25. A desktop refilling device for an article of an aerosolprovision system comprising: an article interface configured to receivethe article; and refilling control circuitry configured to facilitatethe transfer of aerosol-generating material from a reservoir couplableto the refilling device to the article, wherein the article interfacecomprises a holder configured to support the article during the transferof aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to the article. 26.The desktop refilling device of claim 25, wherein the aerosol provisionsystem comprises the article and an aerosol provision device, and theholder is configured to receive the article when the article isseparated from the aerosol provision device of the aerosol provisionsystem.
 27. The desktop refilling device of claim 25 or claim 26,wherein the holder is configured to slide between an open configurationand a closed configuration, wherein the holder is at least partiallylocated outside a housing of the refilling device in the openconfiguration and the holder is located substantially within the housingin the closed configuration.
 28. The desktop refilling device of claim27, wherein the holder is configured to slide into and out of an articleopening in the housing, and an outer surface of the holder is configuredto close the article opening and lie substantially flush with housingwhen the holder is in the closed configuration.
 29. The desktoprefilling device of claim 27, wherein the refilling control circuitry isconfigured to facilitate the transfer of aerosol-generating materialfrom the reservoir to the article when the holder is in the closedconfiguration.
 30. The desktop refilling device of any one of claimsclaim 27 to 29, wherein the holder is configured to receive the articlewhen the holder is in the open configuration.
 31. The desktop refillingdevice of claim 26, wherein the holder is a tray configured to receive,in the open position, the article from above such that the article restson the tray when the desktop refilling device is located on a horizontalsurface.
 32. The desktop refilling device of claim 31, wherein the traycomprises a trough with a size and shape substantially conforming to aperimeter size and shape of the article.
 33. The desktop refillingdevice of claim 27, wherein the refilling control circuitry is furtherconfigured to operate a motor connected to the holder to slide theholder between the open configuration and the closed configuration. 34.The desktop refilling device of claim 33, wherein the refilling controlcircuitry is further configured to operate the motor to slide the holderinto the closed configuration in response to the article being receivedby the holder.
 35. The desktop refilling device of claim 33, wherein therefilling control circuitry is further configured to operate the motorto slide the holder to the open configuration in response to thetransfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoir to thearticle.
 36. The desktop refilling device of claim 25, wherein theholder is configured to receive the article in a horizontal orientationwhen the desktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface.37. The desktop refilling device of claim 25, wherein the reservoirinterface is located above the article interface when the desktoprefilling device is located on a horizontal surface.
 38. The desktoprefilling device of claim 25, wherein the refilling control circuitry isfurther configured to operate an indicator light on the refilling devicebased on the transfer of aerosol-generating material from the reservoirto the article.
 39. The desktop refilling device of claim 38, whereinthe indicator light is located on the article interface.
 40. The desktoprefilling device of claim 38, wherein the holder is configured to slideinto and out of an article opening in a housing of the refilling deviceand the indicator light surrounds the article opening on the housing.41. The desktop refilling device of claim 25, wherein the desktoprefilling device comprises a mains power supply.
 42. The desktoprefilling device of claim 25, wherein the desktop refilling devicecomprises a flat surface to facilitate storage of the desktop refillingdevice on another flat surface.
 43. An article for an aerosol provisionsystem comprising: a first end and a second end, the second end oppositethe first end; an interface at the first end of the article for couplingarticle to an aerosol provision device of the aerosol provision system;and a refilling orifice for transferring aerosol-generating materialinto article, wherein the refilling orifice is located on a sidewall ofthe article between the first end and the second end.
 44. The article ofclaim 43, wherein the refilling orifice is located on the sidewall at adistance furthest from a central axis extending between the first endand a second end.
 45. The article of claim 43, wherein the refillingorifice comprises a septum valve.
 46. The article of claim 43, furthercomprising a mouthpiece at the second end of the article.
 47. Thearticle of claim 43, further comprising one or more connectors at thefirst end of the article for transferring data between the article and adevice coupled to the interface.
 48. An aerosol provision systemcomprising the article of claim
 43. 49. A desktop refilling device foran article of an aerosol provision system comprising: a reservoirinterface configured to receive a reservoir; and refilling controlcircuitry configured to facilitate a transfer of aerosol-generatingmaterial from the reservoir to the article couplable to the refillingdevice, wherein a housing of the desktop refilling device comprises anaccess panel configured to move between an open configuration and aclosed configuration, wherein the reservoir interface is configured toreceive the reservoir when the access panel is in the openconfiguration, and the reservoir opening is enclosed by the access panelwhen the access panel is in the closed configuration.
 50. The desktoprefilling device of claim 49, wherein the reservoir interface is locatedwithin a reservoir opening in a housing of the desktop refilling device.51. The desktop refilling device of claim 50, wherein the reservoiropening is closed by the access panel when the access panel is in theclosed configuration.
 52. The desktop refilling device of claim 49,wherein the reservoir interface comprises a holder with a retainingmechanism configured to receive and retain the reservoir.
 53. Thedesktop refilling device of claim 52, wherein the retaining mechanism isa spring clip.
 54. The desktop refilling device of claim 49, wherein theaccess panel is a sliding panel.
 55. The desktop refilling device ofclaim 54, wherein the access panel extends around substantially part ofor substantially all of a perimeter of the housing.
 56. The desktoprefilling device of claim 49, wherein the desktop refilling device isconfigured to receive the article in a direction perpendicular to adirection the access panel moves between the open configuration and theclosed configuration.
 57. The desktop refilling device of claim 49,wherein the access panel is configured to move in a vertical directionwhen the desktop refilling device is located on a horizontal surface.58. The desktop refilling device of claim 49, wherein the desktoprefilling device comprises a mains power supply.
 59. The desktoprefilling device of claim 49, wherein the desktop refilling devicecomprises a flat surface to facilitate storage of the desktop refillingdevice on another flat surface.